Bridges to Birmingham - University of Birmingham Dubai Podcasts

Bridges to Birmingham - University of Birmingham Dubai Podcasts

By University of Birmingham DubaiEducation
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Bridges to Birmingham - University of Birmingham Dubai Podcasts episodes

  • Welcome 2020 - Student Leader Hangout

    Wednesday 23rd September 2020 - as part of our Welcome 2020 activities, our Student Leaders along with our Student Wellbeing Officer, Richard, take questions from new students on clubs, events, bimodal studying and student wellbeing provision.  

    1 hr 9 min
  • COVID-19 pandemic impact and challenges for recovery in the Construction Industry

    Professor Ian Jefferson, Professor of Geotechnical Engineering, Interim  Deputy Head of College, Engineering and Physical Sciences, at the  university’s School of Engineering and Ian Maund from Quantum Global  Solutions, who is also the Chairman of the Chartered Institute of  Building, MENA region and the Dubai hub discuss the current impact of  COVID-19 and the challenges faced in the construction industry with  insights into the longer term impact of COVID-19.

    36 min
  • Getting Inclusion Right - Professor Julie Allan

    The Dubai Disabilities Strategy articulates a clear and unequivocal commitment to creating a fully cohesive and inclusive strategy and places inclusive education at the heart of an effective education system.


    There are, however, challenges associated with becoming inclusive that arise from conceptual, structural and systemic factors and which have slowed down countries’ progress towards inclusion. In this lecture, Prof Allan reflects on some of the global challenges and report on four instances of where these challenges have been overcome, leading to successful inclusion. These ‘successes’ have been achieved by a school (in Sweden), by parents (in Kazakhstan) and by students (in the United Kingdom) and reinforce Dr Abdulla Al Karam’s contention that it is teachers, parents, leaders and other professionals who hold the power to create change. Prof Allan ends with some reflections on the prospects and possibilities for inclusion in the UAE.

    35 min
  • Corporate Governance at the very top - Professor Amon Chizema

    Agency theory emphasizes the importance of an independent board chair in balancing CEO power and controlling management’s self‐interest (Krause, Semadeni and Cannella, 2014; Krause, Semadeni and Withers, 2016; Withers and Fitza, 2017). Such has been known to be the key reason for separating the roles of the CEO and the board chair (Finkelstein and D’Aveni, 1994; Lorsch and MacIver, 1989). The working relationship between the CEO and the board chair is, therefore, important and could determine the success or failure of the firm.


    However, despite the fact that the leadership roles of the CEO and the board chair form one of the most important dyadic relationships in large firms, anchored on goal interdependence, we know very little about it especially on how this relationship develops and indeed on its consequences. For example, under what circumstances is this relationship likely to be stronger or weaker? What is the impact of this relationship on firm performance? Drawing on social interdependence theory, this lecture explores these questions, contributing to the theory and literature of corporate governance, in general and board dynamics, in particular.

    51 min

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Showcasing the world-leading research from the University of Birmingham and featuring academic faculty and Industry Partners commenting on current issues, their research and important world events.