A round up of the BAM Generative AI in Business Education and Research Symposium on17th January 2025
Generative AI in Business Education and Research Symposium
Exploring the Transformative Role of AI in Management Education
On 17th January 2025, the British Academy of Management (BAM) Knowledge and Learning SIG hosted the “Generative AI in Business Education and Research” Symposium at the iconic Old Royal Naval College, University of Greenwich, London. This event brought together thought leaders, academics, and industry experts to examine how generative AI is reshaping the landscape of education and research.
The symposium focused on generative AI’s potential to enhance productivity, automate tasks, and foster critical thinking, while addressing vital ethical and pedagogical considerations.
Responsible AI and Learning: Oxymoron or Opportunity? Professor Isabel Fischer (University of Warwick) This engaging keynote delved into the balance between AI-driven automation and human oversight in education, offering thought-provoking insights into the role of responsibility in AI integration.
From Concept to Impact: Harnessing AI to Drive Real-World Value at Scale Seamus Blackmore (Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of AI - Trudell Medical Group)
Seamus explored the rapid adoption and transformative potential of AI across industries, emphasizing its evolving landscape and widespread impact. Using real-world examples, he highlighted the rapid pace of innovation alongside key topics such as data privacy, energy efficiency, and ethical challenges. He underscored the potential of localized AI systems to enhance privacy and reduce energy consumption compared to open platforms. While AI drives significant economic gains, Seamus noted that legislative and cultural adaptation struggles to keep pace, raising concerns about unchecked growth. This prompts a critical question: will technology overwhelm humanity, or can we establish effective guardrails to ensure responsible AI deployment in an era of unprecedented innovation?
Generative AI Futures Workshop
The Generative AI Futures workshop explored how management education might evolve in the age of AI, using strategic foresight to imagine and prepare for unanticipated change. Participants engaged in scenario planning through the STEEPV model (Social,Technological, Environmental, Economic, Political, and Value factors) to craft plausible futures. Divided into eight breakout groups—three in-person and five online—they developed four imaginative scenarios by exploring tensions between opposing ends of two STEEPV variables. Through storytelling and analysis, the groups examined how generative AI could influence skills development, learning methods, and the purpose of knowledge.
The workshop emphasized the critical need to assess the broader implications of generative AI, including its impact on critical thinking, truth, and the role of management education in fostering ethical decision-making. It ultimately raised profound questions about the control of knowledge and the future purpose of education in a rapidly transforming world.
Panel Discussion: Generative AI in Business Education Featuring Sue Attewell (JISC), Dr. David Pike (University of Bedfordshire), and Dr. Guido Conaldi (University of Greenwich), this session addressed how AI is transforming teaching, learning, and research methodologies while navigating current challenges and future opportunities.
The event was coordinated by:
Special thanks to Professor Shane Saunderson (McMaster University, Canada) for his contributions.
A recurring theme throughout the symposium was the notion of tensions—introduced in the keynote, woven into the panel discussion, and serving as the core focus of the interactive workshop. As the day unfolded, participants, including PhD students, teaching-focused academics, and research-focused academics, engaged deeply with the complexity and opportunity that AI presents to management education. These tensions sparked debates and conversations that underscored both the challenges and possibilities of AI integration.
The symposium reaffirmed that generative AI is evolving from a tool to a co-pilot in knowledge creation and innovation. While the potential is vast, the critical challenge lies in integrating AI responsibly into business education and research. This journey invites reflection on the broader implications of AI on pedagogy, ethics, and the future of management education—debates and tensions that are sure to continue.
This event represents BAM's commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation at the intersection of technology and education. Stay tuned for upcoming events and initiatives!