Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) successfully hosted its annual Human Resource Management Conference on Thursday 20th March 2025.
The event provided a dynamic platform for students from the MSc Human Resources and Industrial Relations and MSc International Human Resource Management and Comparative Industrial Relations programmes to engage with real-world HR challenges and connect with industry professionals.
Live case study competition
Held within the AMBS building, the conference upheld its tradition of bridging academic learning with practical application. A central feature was the live case study competition. In this, student teams analysed contemporary HR issues and presented their strategic solutions to a distinguished panel of judges.
This year's panel featured Dan Costello FCIPD, Phill Yetzes FIoL, Marketa Garry, and Anshika Dasbajwa Assoc CIPD, AFHEA, who generously shared their time and expertise to evaluate the students' work and offer valuable feedback.
Adding a new dimension to the event, the 2025 conference introduced a poster competition focused on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives.
Students developed innovative solutions for fostering more inclusive workplaces, showcasing their understanding of this critical area of modern HR. The posters were displayed during the lunch break, allowing for further interaction and discussion.
Insights from the industry
The day was enhanced with valuable insights from guest speakers who are leaders in the HR field. Dan Costello launched the conference with a talk on 'Delivering HR with Impact'. This was followed by Phill Yetzes discussing 'Developing Inclusive Leadership', and Andrea Dickinson addressing how to ensure 'HR Policies and Practices Consider the Needs of all Staff'.
A dedicated Q&A session also allowed students to interact directly with the conference judges, gaining deeper insights into the complexities and rewards of a career in HR.
Reflecting on the event's success, programme director Dr Imran Saqib stated: "Continuing with the tradition, it was once again a pleasure to welcome industry experts to our annual HRM MSc Conference who not only shared current insights from the HRM world but also judged the live case study competition.
"I believe that the conference provides an excellent opportunity for students to not only interact with industry leaders but learn from their expertise as they present solutions to real-life HR problems."
Putting theory into practice
The impact on the students was evident. Jingda Guo, an MSc student, shared his perspective: "The conference was very insightful as a student who has just come to the UK from China, it allowed me to get an understanding of HR practices in the UK and apply my learning in the classroom to a professional context."
Another student added, "I found the event very enlightening it was great to hear from each of the key speakers about their experience and career paths in different sectors. I really appreciated having the opportunity to take part in this event. It's a great chance to put HR strategy in practice!"
The conference concluded with a prize-giving ceremony, celebrating the students' hard work and innovative thinking.
This annual HR Conference underscores Alliance Manchester Business School's commitment to providing an enriching educational experience that extends beyond the classroom.
By facilitating direct interaction with industry leaders and tackling real-world case studies, AMBS equips its master's students with the practical skills, strategic insights, and professional connections necessary to excel in the global field of Human Resource Management.
Explore renowned HR programmes at AMBS: