Felipe Hernández Perlines, Professor of Business Organization at the University of Castilla–La Mancha, Vice President of the European Academy of Management and Business Economics, and Full Member of the Royal European Academy of Doctors (READ), together with María Ángela Jiménez, Professor of Financial Economics and Accounting at the same university and also a Full Member of the READ, led the 3rd Teaching Innovation and Knowledge Transfer Conference on 17 December, organized by the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences at the Toledo campus.
Directed by Jiménez, the event brought together members of research groups and teaching-innovation teams from the University of Castilla–La Mancha as well as from other Spanish and international universities, including the Catholic University of Valencia, the University of Salamanca, the National University of Distance Education, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Fidelitas University of Costa Rica. The aim was to share innovative teaching experiences and to reflect on knowledge transfer within the university context. Within this framework, Hernández Perlines presented the paper «In the Land of Giants: Teaching Innovation and Experiential Learning through Video in Strategic Management», based on an audiovisual documentary project broadcast by the region’s public television channel on the social economy in Castilla–La Mancha, demonstrating the university’s ability to translate research into the social sphere through innovative formats.
Conceived as the result of academic work and transformed into television content, «In the Land of Giants»—the generic title of the series—consists of seven episodes in which the stories of cooperatives, schools, foundations, and wineries are told in the first person. These organizations represent a different way of doing business: an economy rooted in values, territory, and commitment to people. The initiative was supported by the Regional Ministry of Economy, Enterprises and Employment of the Government of Castilla–La Mancha and the European Social Fund, and was produced by Grupo Cadena Media.
Dr. Felipe Hernández Perlines
As the academic himself explained, the purpose of these episodes is to bring scientific and academic knowledge closer to society, using audiovisual language to convey the value of the social economy as a driver of development and cohesion. The proposal presents a pedagogical model that, without replacing the study of the major classic cases of international companies traditionally used in strategic management teaching, complements them by analyzing real organizations from the social economy linked to the local territory. This approach makes it possible to integrate key dimensions such as ethics, sustainability, and social commitment into strategic learning, enriching the understanding of the business phenomenon.
«The model is based on the rigorous application of David Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, structuring the training process around the stages of concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. The use of the documentary format serves as the initial experience that contextualizes learning and facilitates the subsequent application of strategic tools such as PESTEL analysis, the value chain, and Porter’s Five Competitive Forces model. The results presented show a significant impact on the learning process, with substantial improvements in concept retention, the transfer of skills to real contexts, and student engagement, as well as a notable increase in peer feedback compared to traditional methodologies», the speaker explained.
The presentation also highlighted the project’s future outlook, which includes the release of materials as open educational resources, the consolidation of service-learning initiatives, and collaboration with research groups in pedagogy, with the aim of moving toward external scientific validation of the model. «Moreover, the experience contributes to the development of essential transversal skills in the training of future managers, such as critical thinking, ethical reflection, and an understanding of the social role of the company. In this context, the role of the lecturer is redefined, adopting a function as a learning guide and curator of content oriented toward strategic reflection», the expert concluded.
Dra. María Ángela Jiménez
An expert in family business, Hernández Perlines was included last year in the prestigious Top 2% of the World’s Best Researchers Ranking, compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier on the basis of impact and scientific influence metrics across all disciplines. This recognition highlights his outstanding research career and his contribution to the advancement of knowledge in his field. He also chaired last summer the Organizing Committee of the 38th Annual Congress of the European Academy of Management and Business Economics, held in Toledo in collaboration with the University of Castilla–La Mancha under the title «Generative Entrepreneurship, Business Priorities and Digital Challenges». The academic also presented in the Castilian capital the new Statistical Portal of the Social Economy of Castilla–La Mancha, developed by a multidisciplinary group of professors specializing in social economy.
For her part, Jiménez is the author of numerous reference studies and monographs published by Spanish and international publishers, as well as papers and presentations at conferences of recognized prestige, and has served on various scientific, steering, and organizing committees for a wide range of academic events. Her work as a researcher has received several awards granted by the Italian Society of Accounting History, the Institute of Socioeconomics of Enterprises and Organizations of Lyon, the Academy of Business Management of the United States, the University of Alcalá de Henares, Spain’s Institute of Accounting and Auditing, and the Vice-Rectorate of the University of Castilla–La Mancha. She has also participated in various teaching innovation projects.
