Business schools often serve as hubs for international mobility, where both faculty and student bodies are highly international. Political tensions can disrupt this, with significant implications for universities, the private sector, and society at large, as it risks losing the benefits of attracting international talent. Yet, despite its importance, migration is often overlooked in business school curricula. Both students and lecturers can benefit from exploring its connections to business and society, which are crucial for future leaders. Migration affects areas such as governance, strategy, corporate social responsibility, and human resource management. In this webinar, we addressed why business schools should not only teach these intersections but also serve as forums for diverse stakeholders to discuss sensitive issues and develop research-informed solutions.

Rachel Cowburn-Walden (Unilever) and Auret van Heerden (Equiception) opened the webinar by discussing current migration challenges in global value chains from a business and human rights perspective, and how business schools can help. Edgar Meyer (University of Birmingham) addressed how UK universities are responding to sudden immigration policy changes affecting international student and faculty recruitment. Eileen McAuliffe (AACSB) and Piet Naudé (EFMD) provided perspectives from the world’s two leading business school accreditation bodies.

More about the speakers:

• Rachel Cowburn-Walden, Unilever
  Rachel is Global Head of Human Rights at Unilever where she advises the business on Unilever’s overall human rights strategy, policies, reporting and advocacy. She has been with Unilever for 16 years. Prior to joining Unilever Rachel worked in the UK Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street and as Head of International Relations for the Labour Party.

• Auret van Heerden, Equiception
  Auret, who grew up in apartheid-era South Africa, became a student activist early on, advocating for equality, which led to torture, solitary confinement, and eventual exile. After apartheid ended, he served as labor attaché at the South African mission to the UN and later as president and CEO of the Fair Labor Association. More recently, he founded and now leads Equiception, a consultancy focused on sustainable supply chains, corporate social responsibility, and workers’ rights.

• Eileen McAuliffe, AACSB International
  Eileen is the Executive Vice President, Chief Thought Leadership Officer, and Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at AACSB International, the global accrediting body for business schools. In her role, she drives thought leadership and strategic initiatives globally, helping shape the future of business education worldwide.
  Prior to joining AACSB, she held several prestigious dean roles at leading institutions in the UK. Most recently, she served as Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean at Birmingham City University, where she championed inclusivity and was a vocal advocate for social mobility, ensuring that higher education is accessible to all, regardless of background.

• Edgar Meyer, University of Birmingham
  Edgar joined the University of Birmingham as Dean of Birmingham Business School in October 2023, after nearly 25 years in various UK academic institutions. His research focuses on leadership and teamwork in health and social care, as well as digital pedagogies, exploring who makes pedagogical decisions and their impact on online learning design. Edgar is an academic member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development and an active volunteer for the AACSB.

• Piet Naudé, EFMD
  Piet is Professor of Ethics at Stellenbosch Business School and Associate Director of Program Accreditation of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), a global accreditation body for business schools and their programs. Previously, he was Director of Stellenbosch Business School and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

Co-hosted by STaR, Migration, Business & Society, and Centre for International Business at the University of Leeds (CIBUL).