2026 EFMD Smart Data Management & AI Workshop

Enabling institutional excellence through data and AI

Online

21 April

- 7 May

13:00

CEST

marketa.dvorackova@efmdglobal.org

Event details

*** This workshop is now fully booked. If you would like to be added to the waiting list or informed about the next edition, please register your interest here. ***

Data management plays a central role in leading modern business schools forward. It supports external compliance, accreditation, rankings, stakeholder accountability, strategising, risk management, internal management-by-objectives, portfolio performance measurement, assurance of learning, publishing, and quality assurance more generally – a list that continues to grow. As a result, business schools must now collect, process, analyse, and maintain more data than ever before. This trend toward data-driven institutional management is only set to intensify, making systematic senior management attention essential.

At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a valuable partner in this journey. When combined with smart data practices, AI can assist staff by automating routine reporting, enhancing communication, generating insights, and supporting decision-making in real time. Crucially, AI does not replace human expertise – it amplifies it. By taking on repetitive tasks and offering new analytical perspectives, AI enables professionals to devote more time to higher-value activities and strategic reflection.

The Smart Data Management & AI Workshop introduces you to the principles of smart data management and the practical ways AI can complement your expertise. You will gain tools to understand the power of data for shaping strategy, and hands-on experience with AI applications that you can immediately use in your day-to-day work.

Target group

This workshop will be especially relevant to quality assurance professionals, professional and academic staff responsible for rankings and data management and anybody wishing to understand the power of data and AI in business schools and higher education contexts.

Learning objectives

During the Smart Data Management & AI workshop, you will learn how to:

Understand the essentials of smart data management within a business school’s ecosystem, and discover how AI can help your data “speak” by turning complex information into clear insights.
Develop a strategic approach to data analysis, supported by AI-generated insights that complement human judgment and institutional knowledge.
Transform information into actionable intelligence, using AI-driven analytics to move from data collection to meaningful interpretation.
Recycle and repurpose data efficiently, applying smart data classification principles and exploring how AI can accelerate and simplify quality assurance processes.
Communicate data effectively as a source of problem-solving and opportunity creation, leveraging AI to assist in drafting narratives, visualisations, and reports.
Integrate smart data management into decision-making, combining your expertise with AI tools to strengthen evidence-based leadership and institutional strategy.

Credentials

Upon successful completion of the four sessions, participants will be issued an EFMD digital badge.

Criteria for receiving the badge:

Active participation at all live sessions (using video and microphone).
Participate to the group work on case scenarios.

Programme

13:00 – 16:00 CEST
Session no. 1: The smart data essentials and why you should make your data speak

Björn Kjellander

This opening session explores the central role of data management in today’s business schools and how data can be sourced, built, embedded, and recycled for multiple purposes. Participants will identify where their institutions stand and how they can improve data integration across ecosystems.

→ Interactive AI element: Experiment with an AI tool that turns sample datasets into summaries, charts, or short narratives, demonstrating how to “make data speak” in new and engaging ways.

13:00 – 16:00 CEST

Session no. 2: Applying AI to Real Data Scenarios

Participants will work in groups on practical, data-related exercises drawn from real institutional challenges. This collaborative session encourages reflection on data use, team coordination, and strategic implications.

→ Interactive AI element: Groups will use a dedicated AI tool to draft a ranking report, create a strategic brief, or analyse a dataset. They will compare AI-generated outputs with manual results, discussing the strengths, limitations, and ethical dimensions of AI-assisted work.

13:00 – 16:00 CEST

Session no. 3: The “why” of data: How to go from a compliance mindset to a strategic mindset?

Isabelle Fagnot

This session examines how institutions can shift from a compliance-driven mindset to a strategic, purpose-led approach to data management. Participants will learn to connect the “what,” “how,” and “why” of data to drive institutional strategy and leadership decisions.

→ Interactive AI element: A live demonstration will show how AI can reveal patterns and propose strategic priorities from complex datasets. Participants will practice prompt design to move from descriptive to strategic insights.

13:00 – 16:00 CEST

Session no. 4: How do I communicate and influence leaders to embed smart data management into the organisation?

Kirsteen Daly

The final session focuses on communicating and embedding smart data management within the organisation. Participants will learn to present data as a driver of problem-solving, opportunity identification, and strategic planning.

→ Interactive AI element: Using AI tools, participants will draft concise executive summaries, leadership briefings, and visual slides from sample data. The exercise highlights how AI can strengthen communication while human expertise ensures accuracy and meaning.

Speakers

Kirsteen Daly

Accreditations, Rankings and Communication Manager

Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow

Isabelle Fagnot

Dean

Kedge Business School

Björn Kjellander

Director of Quality Assurance and Accreditation

Jönköping International Business School

Benjamin Stevenin

HEADWay Advisory

Registration fees

490€ member of EFMD
590€ non-member of EFMD

Cancellation policy

Cancellations must be confirmed in writing. If EFMD is notified of your withdrawal by 21 March 2026, an administrative cancellation fee of 40€ will apply. After this date, we regret that no refunds can be issued. However, substitutions are allowed at no additional cost, provided EFMD is informed of the substitute’s name, title, and address. Event fees are not transferable to other EFMD events.