2027 & 2028 RFP for Symposium Host

 
Every year since 2004, the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable (the Roundtable) partners with a member business school to host our annual curricular innovation symposium.  The symposium is the Roundtable’s signature event where business school leaders come together to share and generate ideas on graduate management education curricular innovation.  The annual symposium is a day and a half conference and typically takes place in the fall of the year.  The Roundtable has also recently partnered with the PMBA/OMBA Advisory Board to deliver both of our conferences together, for a total of three days.   In addition, the Roundtable has often delivered a half day workshop in front of the Annual Symposium.  For the latest symposium schedule and agenda, please visit www.GBCRoundtable.org/annual-symposium. 

Please note that for 2027, the Roundtable will not be partnering with the PMBA/OMBA Conference, but the opportunity to partner with other organizations may still be available for 2027 & 2028.  Please note on your proposal your willingness to host only the symposium and/or a partnership event. 

By partnering with the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable, host school sponsors benefit from the opportunity to:

• Spotlight your school as a leader in graduate management education
• Showcase your school’s innovative programs, research, and curricula
• Promote your school through promotional materials, press releases, and proceedings and on the Roundtable web site and social media
• Enhance recognition as an advocate of the Roundtable and for curricular innovation
• Offer your faculty and staff participation in the event without incurring travel expenses

Symposium Objectives
The annual symposium directly supports the mission of the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable (The Roundtable) and is designed as a working format to

• Promote dialogue and education on topics related to improving graduate management education curricular design, delivery, assessment, implementation, or structure
• Encourage active communication and hands-on learning among attendees
• Attract deans, faculty directors, faculty and administrators from member and nonmember schools involved in curricular development, design, implementation and assessment
• Provide networking opportunities for attendees
• Present ideas and practices that are actionable and can be implemented at schools
• Highlight the Roundtable and host institution research and/or knowledge creation

Sponsor Criteria
In post-symposia evaluations, participants rank the event very highly for its professionalism, organization, in-depth content, networking opportunities and actionable takeaways accomplished in large part due to the contributions of our host sponsor schools.  

To continue our track record of success, the Roundtable requests host business schools meet the following criteria:

1. Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable membership and participation
   1. A current member school in good standing
   2. Demonstrated past participation in Roundtable activities
2. Content Contributions
   1. Help in identifying and developing the symposium theme
   2. Willingness to balance Roundtable member interests with desire to promote school’s expertise in selecting theme or topic
   3. Ability to access speakers, facilitators, or subject matter experts who might contribute to the program
3. Location
   1. An attractive city or campus location which may be easily accessed from all regions of the globe preferably with direct flights from most international locations
   2. Ability to draw international, domestic, and regional participants
4. Meeting Facility
   1. High quality conference or executive education center, with hybrid/virtual program delivery capabilities
   2. Auditorium or tiered classroom with seating for 150 (up to 250 for combined event)
   3. 3-4 additional breakout classrooms adjacent or near the auditorium (for breakout discussion sessions and pre-symposium workshop)
   4. Dining and reception space for 150-200 (up to 250 for a combined event)
   5. Space for 10-15 sponsor tables/booth easily accessible to attendees
   6. Office space for Roundtable staff during the symposium
   7. Access to quality catering
   8. Accessible parking
   9. Current technology and A/V support including recording, editing and electronic publishing capabilities.

 

5. Hotel Accommodations
   1. Quality hotel accommodations within walking distance of symposium locations or hotel shuttle service
   2. Negotiated or university rate and block of rooms for event
6. School Support
   1. Demonstrated understanding and show of support by the dean and other leadership of the business school
   2. Support of the associate dean or program director in contributing to the planning committee and serving as primary point of contact for the school
   3. Assistance of a lead support staff member to manage before and during on-site event logistics and administration including catering, room reservations, IT support, hotel liaison, parking, security, maps, etc.
   4. Willingness to promote the event with school partner institutions, local press and media, and invite keynote and corporate speakers as needed.
   5. On-site assistance (students and other support staff) the day prior and the days of the event
7. Financial Support
   1. Host schools have traditionally sponsored the special event reception and underwritten other costs associated with hosting the event including space rental, catering, hotel transportation, etc.; the value will be approximately US $30,000 – $50,000.  The amount of financial support may vary based on each host’s choices on venue, speakers, special event, etc. and could possibly be higher than our estimate.  For partner conferences a shared revenue model has been used to cover the additional costs of a larger conference and attendance.

Previous Symposia and Host Schools

• 2004: “Meeting the Leadership Needs of Corporations through MBA Education,” University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
• 2006: “MBA 2020: A Vision for Curricular Innovation,” Villanova University (Philadelphia, PA)
• 2007: “Planet MBA: Advancing Sustainability Curricula in Management Education,” DePaul University (Chicago, IL)
• 2008: “Cultivating a Global Mindset in MBAs ” The George Washington University (Washington, DC)
• 2009: “MBAs in Action” University of Denver (Denver, CO)
• 2010: “MBA Curricular Change and Innovation” University of Virginia, (Charlottesville, VA)
• 2011: “Leadership Development in MBA Education: University of Washington, (Seattle, WA)
• 2012: “Entrepreneurial Thought and Action®,”  Babson College (Wellesley, MA)
• 2013: “ Interdisciplinary Education in the MBA”, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
• 2014:  “MBA 2020” Instituto de Empressa (IE), Madrid, Spain
• 2015:   "Closing the Gap:  Cultivating Communication Competency in the MBA"             Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)
• 2016:   "Re-Imagining MBA Education:  Weaving Business Acumen and Leadership into the MBA Curriculum" Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)
• 2017:  “A Market-Driven Approach to Designing a Responsive MBA Curriculum” Temple University, (Philadelphia, PA)
• 2018:  “Tech Enabled – Human Empowered” University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)
• 2019:  “Deconstruction and Rebuilding the MBA for Lifelong Learning” Michigan State University, (East Lansing, MI)
• 2020:  “Building Increased Impact and Purpose into your MBA Program” Penn State University (Virtual)
• 2021: “Designing the Future GME Curriculum: delivering an innovative and adaptable curriculum aligned with student and industry needs” University of Georgia, (Virtual)
• 2022:  “Innovating with a Mission:  Discovering, Defining, and Delivering your Purpose in your Graduate Management Curriculum” - Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University
• 2023: “Meeting disruption head on: Driving curricular and program innovations through powerful engagement of your external stakeholders, partners, and market forces” – Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota (PMBA/OMBA Joint Event)
• 2024:  “The Power of Business for Good in an Uncertain World: The Role of Graduate Business Education”  - Questrom School of Business, Boston University
• 2025:  “Planning for the Next Gen Students Today: Future Proofing our Graduates & Programs” – Muma College of Business, University of South Florida.

Conference Partnerships. 
In 2017, 2023, 2024 and 2025, the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable partnered with the PMBA/OMBA Advisory Board to co-present our two conferences.  The conferences have run back-to-back in 2017 and concurrently in 2023-2025.  Hosting a combined event will require additional resources, space, and capacity.  If you are interested in hosting a joint event, please confirm so in your proposal.  If you need additional information about hosting a joint event, please contact jeff@gbcroundtable.org to answer any questions you may have.  For more details on the 2025 event and agenda, visit https://gbcroundtable.org//annual-symposium.

Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable Support
To ensure the benefit to all member schools, the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable organizes a symposium planning committee that is responsible for determining the program theme, format, and sourcing speakers and panelists. The Roundtable team will work to identify, confirm, and prepare the overall speakers, agenda and content for the event.  The Roundtable also manages the event communication and promotion, the presentation RFP process, registration, attendee lists, event app, and consults with the host institution on on-site logistics.  
  
Host School Sponsor Selection
Host schools are evaluated and selected based on their ability to meet the sponsor criteria and deliver a high impact, high quality event.  A small committee of Roundtable board members evaluates the proposals and makes the selection which is confirmed by the entire Roundtable board.  

Proposal Submission
Roundtable member schools interested in serving as the host for the 2027 or 2028 Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable symposia are asked to submit a 3-4 page proposal that:

• Defines the school’s ability to meet the sponsor criteria (outlined above)
• Identifies possible symposium dates for fall 2027 & 2028 (October/Early November)
• Suggests potential themes or topics for planning committee consideration
• Share interest in a partner event

Please email jeff@gbcroundtable.org as soon as possible to express your interest in hosting and then complete and return your proposal by February 20, 2026.

Once selected, the host school will be asked to sign an event partnership agreement with the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable.

For Further Information
Please contact Jeff Bieganek, executive director of the Graduate Business Curriculum Roundtable, at jeff@GBCRoundtable.org.  We would be happy to schedule a meeting to discuss your potential proposal and answer any questions.