Social robotics project and SBPA highlighted at AACSB conference

Dr. Anshu Arora demonstrating how social robots work with high school students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in DC Public Schools.

AACSB International (AACSB)—the world’s largest business education alliance—announced UDC’s School of Business and Public Administration (SBPA) among 25 business schools highlighted in its Innovations That Inspire member spotlight program for its project “Social Robotics for the Good of Society.” Dr. Anshu Arora, associate professor of marketing, director of the NSF Funded Logistics & International Trade (LIT) Analytics Center and director of the Behavioral Research Lab, was recognized for her work with social robots and autism spectrum disorder at K-12 high schools in DC Public School System at the annual conference on April 23-25 in Chicago.

Arora is the PI of the National Science Foundation (NSF) HBCU-UP Research Initiation Award—Social Motivation Approach for Rehabilitation Through Educational Robotics (SMARTER) research project.

“I am extremely pleased and honored to have received the 2023 Innovations That Inspire Recognition Award for my Social Robotics Research bestowed by the AACSB International to the UDC School of Business and Public Administration,” Arora said.

“Through this award and recognition, AACSB recognizes institutions around the world that are creating relevant, impactful and visionary business schools for tomorrow. We were in the TOP 25 Universities of the world to have received this recognition in 2023. I am truly indebted to Dean Mo Sepehri for continuously motivating the faculty and students, working relentlessly for the overall good of all stakeholders, and ensuring high levels of excellence at the UDC School of Business. I am happy that my social robotics project has been honored for the noble cause of helping high schoolers in the DC Public School System diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder through Social Robotics for the Good of Society.”

An annual program, it recognizes institutions from around the world that serve as champions of change in the business education landscape. In 2023, the highlights feature efforts to innovate the business school in ways that enhance value for all stakeholders, including students, businesses, and society. These schools are defining new realities for the future of learning, leading, and connecting, paving the way to a re-energized value proposition for business education.

SBPA Dean Mohamad Sepehri  and Dr. Anshu Arora at the event.

“New demands from stakeholders require reimagined business school initiatives, and UDC demonstrates a fresh way forward for business education,” said Caryn Beck-Dudley, AACSB president and CEO. “By leveraging innovation for knowledge co-creation, new methods of learning, and expanded educational access, business schools are meeting market expectations and increasing value for businesses, learners, and society.”

Now in its eighth year, the Innovations That Inspire initiative has highlighted 214 business school efforts that exemplify forward-looking approaches to education, research, community engagement, entrepreneurship, leadership, and diversity and inclusion. Support for the 2023 Innovations That Inspire member spotlight program is provided by the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business.

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