Bond University, Australia (2024)
We were thrilled to have our 10th RMLE Unconference at the home where it began back in 2013, at Bond University on The Gold Coast of Australia. It was a truly memorable event with respect, connection, and inclusion at its core. We celebrated and learned about Australia’s indigenous culture throughout the event with a heartfelt “Acknowledgement of Country” shared by Bond Provost, Professor Keitha Dunstan, a walking tour of the Corrigan Collection of Australian indigenous art at Bond, a “Welcome to Country” given by Uncle John Graham on country at Jellurgal, and a painting session run for one of our groups by one of our participants who is a Bond alumna and an extremely talented indigenous artist, Imogen Clarence.
Above is a picture of our participant contributors being welcomed to country by Uncle John as the sun set to the west and we gazed out to the east looking at the beautiful Pacific ocean.
We were a group of 26 highly engaging (and engaged) people representing 17 universities, seven countries, and three continents. The countries represented by our contributors included Australia, Canada, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
The initial discussion group clusters for this year’s event were:
• Group “Google Maps” – Building bridges, facilitating collaboration, and expanding our approaches to community, connectedness, and inclusivity: Reflecting upon where we are today and where we go from here
• Group “Wi-Fi” – Exploring the Tensions, Truths, and Joys of Embedding AI in Management Education
• Group “Permaculture” – Embedding diversity, justice, and a synergistic and boundaryless approach to management learning and education into our academic environments
• Group “Ultrasound” – Examining the Tools, Techniques, Challenges, and Innovative Interventions Related to Increasing Student Learning and Retention in Today’s Higher Education Institutions
• Group “Didjeridu” (which later became group “yiḏaki” or “mako”) – Indigenising and Diversifying Organizations: Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Decolonialization within Management Learning and Education
The group discussions were not only highly engaging and collaborative, but also resulted in a variety of really interesting working group projects that participants committed to continuing after the event finished. We can’t wait to see where the rich conversations take everyone over the upcoming weeks and months.
Our working dinner took place overlooking the beautiful Pacific ocean, eating seafood caught locally, and thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. There is nothing quite like our RMLE Unconference dinners. You have to experience one to appreciate how integral they are to our time together.
As with each of our previous RMLE Unconferences, we would like to thank our ongoing partner organizations, the Journal of Management Education, Management Learning, and the Academy of Management Learning and Education, as well as Bond University and the incredible team of people who sit on our RMLE Unconference Executive Committee every year. This year, we would also like to send a special thank you to the team from the events team at Bond for helping to organise this year’s activities, Uncle John for his beautiful “Welcome to Country” and the evening he spent with us, and Professor Keitha Dunstan, the Bond Provost, for her heartwarming “Acknowledgement of Country.”
Without our institutional and individual supporters, as well as our engaging and engaged participant contributors, our RMLE Unconferences wouldn’t exist.
To view a copy of the 2024 RMLE Unconference Proceedings, please click on the link below: