News

First a new home and now a new brand. It’s time for a fresh perspective on business at Guelph.

The College of Business and Economics (formerly College of Management and Economics) proudly unveiled new branding today that places a greater emphasis on its distinctive business programs. Also included in this rebrand are new names for the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management – now the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management – and Department of Business – which is now the Department of Management.

The University of Guelph is set to host the National Food Security Forum at the Guelph Delta Conference Centre February 19 to 20. Sponsored by the U of G's Food Institute, the event will unite Canadian academics, industry professionals and other speakers and will be co-chaired by Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, Associate Dean and Professor of the U of G's business school.

The forum is open to anyone interested in food security, food processing, retailing and distributing, and consumer trends in food. To register and for more details, visit opened.uoguelph.ca/foodsecurity/index.html.

What influences our decisions to buy or not to buy a certain product? According to Neesha Mathew's master's thesis in marketing and consumer studies, satisfying the consumer's hunger for certain product information is a large part of the puzzle. Her findings were recently covered in this article from at Guelph.

The falling dollar and a severe drought in California might have an impact on Canadian food prices, according to Associate Dean and Professor Sylvain Charlebois. Charlebois was interviewed today by 660 News on the dollar and CTV News on the drought. 

Looking for opportunities to take your business to the next level? Consider auditioning for CBC's hit show, Dragons' Den or applying for BDC's 2014 Young Entrepreneur Award.

Ready to make a deal with a Dragon? CBC's hit show Dragons' Den will be holding auditions in Kitchener on February 14. This is your chance to not only promote your business, but gain investors. Get more details on Dragons' Den auditions.

In the lead up to this weekend's Super Bowl, Marketing and Consumer Studies professor Timothy Dewhirst comments on the "Battle of Brands" within the NFL. According to Dewhirst, team names often represent "tough, fierce, fearless and menacing qualities," all fitting given the nature of the game. Read full U of G release

Candidates entering U of G's MBA in Food and Agribusiness Management or MA in Leadership programs who are graduates of the Rural Ontario Institute's Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) will be given advanced standing equivalent to two elective courses. This is the first time advanced standing has been granted to any U of G master's program. Read more on this announcement on the Farms.com website.

In this article from Corporate Knights, Assistant Professor Elizabeth Kurucz and Andree Gosselin O'Meara, Director of Retention at the Globe and Mail, write about the challenges facing sustainability in business, specifically at the leadership level. They suggest that engaging all stakeholder groups, challenging business assumptions and creating an "entrepreneurial approach to governance" are key steps towards addressing these challenges.

In this issue of the AgCareers newsletter, Associate Dean and Professor Sylvain Charlebois writes about the ever-changing landscape of the food and agriculture industry and how CME's MBA has evolved to meet changing demands and expectations. Read "Coping with the New Normal in Agribusiness"

If you’re looking for an example of a U of G student who has taken their educational experience to another level, look no further than Michelle Chan. Since starting our renowned Hospitality and Food Administration (HAFA) program, she has taken on roles in student government in the Hospitality and Tourism Management Student Association (HTMSA), completed a year of co-operative education, participated in CBaSE programs, acted as an Ontario DECA Provincials judge, and studied in France and Austria.