The rise of virtual reality (VR) and other educational technologies (EdTech) in online MBA programs has transformed the way business schools deliver their curricula. With the increased need for remote learning driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions have adopted and integrated advanced technologies to enhance the learning experience. So what are their impacts on the student experience?
Virtual reality in MBA programs
Virtual reality has been particularly influential in creating immersive learning environments. INSEAD, a prominent business school in France and Singapore, has introduced the INSEAD XR Portal, the world’s largest collection of virtual reality (VR) learning experiences for management education and research.
This platform includes 20 VR experiences covering various management topics. More than 40 INSEAD faculty members are already using these tools, and the portal is accessible globally. INSEAD does not offer an online MBA, but the portal and VR cases are accessible to other business schools which do offer online MBAs.
“Our XR library goes beyond showcasing digital cases. It is a turnkey solution for academic and corporate partners, offering them ready, easy-to-implement suite of immersive learning tools or customized solutions to achieve the desired learning objectives,” says Ithai Stern, academic director of the INSEAD Immersive Learning Initiative.
Artificial intelligence and personalization
Artificial intelligence (AI) is another cornerstone of EdTech in online MBA programs. AI can offer personalized learning experiences, tailoring education to meet individual student needs. POLIMI Graduate School of Management in Italy, for example, has built FLEXA, a virtual learning platform that leverages AI and analytics to act as a digital mentor. It provides access to 800,000 pieces of content, including digital courses, webinars, podcasts and articles – including to students in POLIMI’s online MBA program.
FLEXA also creates personalized training paths for users based on an initial skills assessment. Federico Frattini, dean at POLIMI, calls it a “diagnostic tool that evaluates the student’s skills, then uses Microsoft AI services to create personalized learning pathways that can be very short one-day paths or longer six-month paths. It can suggest physical and digital content, customized to the experiences of each student”.
Moreover, AI can enhance student engagement by monitoring their progress and providing timely support. Schools use data analytics to track student participation and identify those who may need additional assistance. This proactive approach helps ensure that all students receive the support they need to succeed in their studies.
Enhanced online learning platforms
Online MBA programs are also leveraging sophisticated online learning platforms to deliver content effectively. The University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business, for instance, has designed its online MBA program with contemporary real-world scenarios, engaging video content and live class sessions conducted via webcam.
This approach ensures that students can form professional relationships and develop essential business skills, despite the physical distance.
Elsewhere, Warwick Business School of the UK has invested in a state-of-the-art “mixed reality” studio that blends the physical and digital worlds, creating a new environment where physical and virtual objects coexist and interact in real time.
The aim is to provide students in its online MBA program with a more immersive “enhanced reality” experience. “Interactivity is extremely important for students. They want to be able to interact with faculty and their peers to ensure they gain the maximum benefit from their studies,” explains Dimitrios Spyridonidis, associate professor at Warwick.
IE Business School in Spain, meanwhile, offers the “WOW Room”, a state-of-the-art learning space that integrates advanced technologies like AI, real-time simulations, big data, interactive robots and holograms.
This project enhances online MBA education by creating a highly immersive learning environment. The WOW Room features a 48-screen digital tapestry, allowing professors to be present either physically or as holograms, interacting with students via robots. This setup also facilitates real-time simulations and big data analysis, providing a dynamic and engaging educational experience.
“The WOW Room brings the future of learning forward. Technology is revolutionizing our lives and we are moving in the direction it is taking us,” says DiegoAlcázar Benjumea, CEO of IE University. “This learning space takes us to the next level of our commitment to technology immersion. We have invested 25 million euros in innovative learning projects over the last 15 years.”
He adds: “Students will take decisions under pressure. They will find themselves in the midst of business crises, be required to define production processes in factory environments, negotiate war situations and resolve diplomatic conflicts between countries, to name just a few potential scenarios.”
Impact on students
The integration of EdTech has made online MBA programs more flexible and accessible. Asynchronous and synchronous learning options allow students to balance their studies with work and personal commitments more effectively.
EdTech innovations have drastically changed the student experience. Virtual classrooms no longer require all students to be present simultaneously, allowing for a more flexible learning schedule. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for working professionals pursuing an online MBA, as it enables them to integrate their studies into their busy lives without sacrificing quality.
As technology continues to evolve, business schools are likely to incorporate more sophisticated tools and methods to provide an even more immersive and personalized education.
