Aaron F. Cooper II, a self-described worrywart, never thought his penchant for devising foolproof backup plans could translate into a calling. But that all changed when he signed up for an elective in risk management while at the University of Georgia’s Terry School of Business executive MBA program last fall. “It entails pretty much everything I’ve always been interested in my entire life, even before I knew risk management existed,” said Cooper, 27, a telecommunications engineer at AT&T (T).

Cooper is part of a new wave of students hitting business school campuses. For years, risk management—the process of analyzing exposure to risk and determining how best to handle it—occupied a sleepy corner in business schools, a subject mainly of interest to those who want to enter the insurance field. But with the recent turmoil in the financial markets and a push for more accountability, risk management has rocketed in status at business schools.

In the past decade, a growing number of B-schools have added concentrations in the subject, ramping up the number of classes they offer. Executive MBA programs are also incorporating risk management electives into their curriculum, responding to increased demand from executives and companies. In some instances, schools such as Georgia’s Terry are developing custom programs on the topic for top executives and boards of directors.

More : businessweek.com

The International Institute of Management and Governance (IIMG) is organising a six-day workshop for company directors. The workshop, which began on October 13, will address issues of transparency, accountability, equity, integrity and social and environmental responsibilities of company directors.

Participants at the end of the six-day programme will be given a PG Diploma in Company Directorship. The programme is divided into 12 modules. These include Duties, Responsibilities and Liabilities of Directorship, Board’s Role in Strategic Planning and Managing Innovation among others.

The faculty for the programme includes Justice M. N. Venkatchaliah, former Chief Justice of India, Dr P. G. Apte, Director IIM Banagalore, Mr C. P. Jain, Chairman NTPC

The north-western regional convention of university teachers’ associations, organised by the committee for the formation of All India Federation of University Teachers Association (AIFUTA) at the University Business School today, reiterated the need for greater accountability and autonomy in university affairs.

Delegates from teacher associations of various universities of the north-western region participated in the convention. The aims, structure and functions of the proposed AIFUTA were also discussed. Speakers reiterated the need for greater autonomy from political and bureaucratic pressures and also decided to submit proposals for structural reforms in the university system.

The convention was organised as a part of the preparatory convention for a national convention to be organised on December 28-29.