Learning different ways to do HR in different organisations and countries

Italian MSc Human Resource Management (HRM) students from the University of Cagliari were at the OU’s campus in Milton Keynes for two days in late April as part of a UK trip.

Their visit also boosted the efforts of the OU Business School (OUBS) to enhance the knowledge exchange and internationalisation of its own MSc HRM programme.

The students were hosted by PhD graduate and now OUBS Lecturer in Management Dr Marco Distinto, together with Prof Cinzia Priola, who both come from the Cagliari region in Sardinia. Cinzia, Professor of Work and Organisation Studies, is a Visiting Professor at the University of Cagliari.

Her Head of Department, Prof Jo Brewis who is Professor of People and Organisations, also took part in a hybrid seminar on the first day (Monday 24 April). Cinzia and Jo discussed their research in the field of Organisation Studies and HR Management, while the Italian visitors described their experiences as HR practitioners and some OU MSc students were also invited to join online. On the same day, the students met Sharon Henry (People Business Partner) and Victoria Martin (Organisational Learning Lead) to learn about HRM at the OU.

Their next three days in the UK included meetings with members of different organisation based in Milton Keynes. The students visited Milton Keynes Community Foundation on the Tuesday morning for presentations by Ian Revell (Chief Executive), Michaela Clark (Capacity Building Manager) and Jonathan Miller (Estates Manager). In the afternoon, they engaged in a lively conversation with Michael Bracey (Chief Executive) and Julie Clark (Head of Human Resources) from Milton Keynes Council.

On Wednesday, at Quadrant MK (the headquarters of Network Rail), Janet Trowse (Head of HR System Operator) organised a panel of experts who covered the whole spectrum of HRM inside the organisation. On Thursday, the Italian students met Francis Nielsen, the Deputy Director of MK Gallery, to talk HRM in the arts organisation.

Back on campus, their final day (Friday 28 April) involved more insights from Victoria Martin and Megan Corker (Organisational Learning Lead) from the OU’s own People Services team, Helen Evans (HR Manager) from YMCA Together, and Thames Valley Police’s Superintendent Emma Baillie.