The Subject Centre for Business, Management, Accountancy and Finance (BMAF) is one of 24 Subject Centres funded within the Higher Education Academy to promote high quality learning and teaching in UK Higher Education (HE) by providing subject-based support for sharing innovations and good practices.BMAF is based at Oxford Brookes University.
BMAF was formerly known as the Business Education Support Team (BEST), part of the former Learning and Teaching Support Network (LTSN).
Workshops - BMAF supports up to 20 workshops each year in locations across the UK and addressing a range of topics - in most cases these are free to attend and can be booked through the BMAF website. In some instances these are organised by the Special Interest Groups, in others these are in response to a topic or need identified by academics and often hosted in their institutions.
National Conference - BMAF organises an annual conference at locations across the UK including Oxford, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Newcastle. This offers an often international forum for well over 100 delegates to contribute to 60-80 papers and workshops, in addition to keynote speakers and the essential opportunities to informally network with colleagues.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) - BMAF has established a number of SIGs to offer more specific opportunities for sharing and discussion. Some are with subject associations, e.g. British Accounting and Finance Association, University Forum for HRD, Academy of Marketing, and others are around themes and topics, e.g. internationalisation, employability, project management, entrepreneurial learning, technology-enhanced learning. SIGs provide workshops and other events, contribute to the BMAF conference, publications and other resources.
Key Contacts - BMAF supports a network of Key Contacts at higher institutions throughout the UK. These contacts distribute information relevant to the BMAF subject areas, highlight local issues and provide feedback about current national issues. BMAF organises twice yearly meetings for Key Contacts to share experiences and discuss current issues.
Funding - BMAF coordinates funding for a number of teaching research and development projects to encourage and support academics across the educational community.
International Journal of Management Education - Since November 2000 BMAF has published this journal 2-3 times a year. The contents of this journal is freely available from the journals website.
Enhancing Series - in partnership with Hospitality, Leisure, Sport and Tourism Network (HLST), BMAF has commissioned the 'Enhancing' series of books consisting of case studies around themes of interest to educators, written by staff from the business, management, hospitality, leisure, sport and tourism communities. There are now four titles published through UK publisher Threshold Press - 'Enhancing Graduate Employability', 'Enhancing the International Learning Experience', Enhancing Student Centred Learning', and in 2010 'Enhancing Learning Through Assessment'.
Other Resources - The BMAF website provides free access to all the educational and teaching resources it produces as part of its funded projects.
External Examiners Register - BMAF's External Examiners Register allows academics to locate and contact examiners in the areas of business, management, accountacy and finance.
BMAF Magazine - Published 3 times a year since 2007 as a printed magazine and as a free download, the BMAF Magazine shares new ideas, new approaches and new work, and to inform about the BMAF's work.