Technology innovations in the MBA classroom

By Niamh Ollerton Updated May 27, 2021

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Introduction
Innovation labs
Smart tech
Online learning platforms
Development of MOOCs

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Innovation is what distinguishes a leader from a follower – at least that’s what Steve Jobs said. And in many ways, he’s right. The business schools thriving today are the ones breaking the mould, stepping away from the crowd and incorporating new methods that will push learning and execution to the next level.

An innovative spirit is one thing a business school and MBA programme needs to succeed and thrive. With many top business schools realising they can only hold onto their reputation if they continue to innovate.

MBA programmes across the globe are utilising technology innovations to improve the MBA experience – especially in today’s MBA classroom where many business schools are choosing to take on a hybrid approach moving forward post-pandemic.

Innovation labs

Today’s students have a different perception of the world than previous generations. We are much more open to technology and feel highly comfortable with it. Consequently, schools have needed to develop their teaching methods to appeal to a tech-savvy audience.

Harvard Business School has been fostering entrepreneurship through its Innovation Lab, focused on health care research within its Health Care Initiative, and also encouraged leadership growth through its Leadership Initiative.

IE Business School is known for its innovative ethos and continues to top the online MBA rankings for this reason.

IE’s WOW (Window on the World) Room is one such technological innovation to business school is proud to call its own. The WOW Room is a physical space located on IE’s Madrid centre with 48 screens that comprise a digital tapestry of 45m2 shaped in the form of a “U” and with up to 200-degree vision.

The WOW Room benefits from a SyncRTC video collaboration platform customized specifically for the project. IE is keen to stay at the forefront of innovative education tech.

Smart tech

You’d be hard pressed to undertake an MBA programme that doesn’t incorporate some for of smart tech programming or ways of teaching.

AI courses are everywhere today. But why does it benefit an MBA student? Artificial intelligence can mimic the analytical abilities of human brains. If you want to learn more about disruptive innovation and how it creates new markets, understanding how AI works is the way forward. After all, AI help power marketing, and has functionality in accounting and finance.

Online learning platforms

Business schools tend to be at the forefront of innovation and development, offering up new ways to learn as technology adapts – take new online learning platforms for example.

Whether it’s new student portals of online courses, business schools are constantly adapting their online teaching methods to keep up with constant changes to the way we work and learn.

Increasingly, business schools offer flexible, customised learning platforms for students.

EU Business School offers 11 customisable MBA specialties on their online platform. Dr. Jon-Hans Coetzer, academic dean of the online campus at EU Business School says EU is integrating technology into the classroom and learning process.

He said: “The online campus integrate technology in the classroom with the aim to deliver more effective and inclusive learning that allow the students to link content with change processes such as automation, workforce transformations, and the shifting geography of employment.”

Development of MOOCs

MOOCs offer a more affordable way to earn credits towards your MBA.

Did you know the Gies Colllege of Business - University of Illinois launched the first MOOC-based MBA with Coursera, the California-based online learning company? The business school restructured its full-time MBA programme to allow students to start courses whenever they wanted – and save some cash too.

If you wanted to start a MOOC that focused on critical skills and deeper explorations of business topics, The Wharton School has 18 MOOCs to choose from.

But if you were more interested in the social sector and wanted to work on developing your skills as a business leader, Haas School of Business designed and innovated a series of MOOCs in philanthropy and non-profit strategy.

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Written by

Niamh Ollerton

Niamh was Deputy Head of Content at QS (TopMBA.com; topuniversities.com), creating and editing content for an international student audience. Having gained her journalism qualification at the Press Association, London and since written for different international publications, she's now enjoying telling the stories of students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs and organizations from across the globe.