Innovative Education and Business Engagement at the Heart of Entrepreneurial Business Schools: An interview with Dr Gwyn Jones,Director of Essex Business School,University of Essex

Abstract

Dr Gwyn Jones is currently the Director of the Essex Business School (EBS), University of Essex. His first entrepreneurial venture involved successfully starting, growing and selling a software business. He became a serial entrepreneur, alongside his roles in the corporate environment as Chairperson, Director and Non-executive Director. Some of his high-profile posts include the Chairperson of the Welsh Development Agency, the North West Equity Fund, and training and consultancy firm RogenSi, a Non-Executive Director in Tesco and Apricot Computers, a Senior Independent Director at Invesco English and International Trust plc, a Governor of the BBC and a member of the S4C Authority. His career embraces technology, media, retail, consulting and investment.

He was appointed the EBS Director in 2013 to head up the management team and leads the review of the school's strategy for education, research and business engagement, a move that was intended to make the school more aligned with the opportunities that business engagement offers. Within a short year a number of agreements have been made with corporates and SMEs, and student numbers have escalated. In addition the school has developed a number of entrepreneurial initiatives, including the introduction of the internship option in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for undergraduate students and the delivery of the Postgraduate Certificate programme in Entrepreneurship Practices for Essex's graduates who are intending to start a business. Currently, he is involved in a number of exciting projects including the development of business incubation spaces for entrepreneurial students to conduct their business activities. He also works closely with other departments within the University, and is involved in the development and running of a number of entrepreneurial initiatives including the GameHub (a game design programme in partnership with Colchester Borough Council, Essex County Council and Shark Infected Custard) and the annual entrepreneurship boot camp held in Essex.

Prior to his role of EBS Director, Gwyn has taught in various higher institutions in the UK including Manchester, Strathclyde, Aberystwyth, and Leicester.