From elementary schools to prestigious MBA programs, digital education has revolutionized the way we learn. We delve into the advantages of digital learning with Freja Liljedahl, a student in the Digital MBA program at EU Business School.
In a world characterized by rapid technological advancement, digital education is shaping the future of learning. Institutions like EU Business School leverage digital education to deliver an immersive, flexible, and accessible learning experience. Their Digital MBA enables students like Freja to learn from anywhere in the world while providing interactive sessions with professors and classmates.
Digital education has become instrumental in providing opportunities for upskilling and reskilling individuals. It takes self-motivation and discipline to manage the autonomy that comes with online learning. However, when done right, it allows professions to evolve and remain competitive in the job market.
Studying online appealed to Freja once she returned to Sweden after her undergraduate studies in the US. In her position at the global manufacturing company Sandvik, Freja was inspired to pursue the holistic business education an MBA provides. The Digital MBA allowed her to study without giving up her job. (01:44)
Thanks to years of training as an athlete, Freja also had the discipline to take full advantage of the benefits of learning digitally.
Now that being online is a daily occurrence for most, the limitations of internet-based learning are falling away. In fact, a plethora of research supports the effectiveness of digital education. One study found that digital learning environments can enhance students’ academic performance, motivation, and engagement.
Digital education also offers the possibility for a personalized learning experience. Learners can go at their own pace, studying within a setting that suits their needs.
Going into her MBA program, Freja was worried her analytical skills would hold her back. Knowing that the program included fundamental business courses, such as finance, was intimidating.
“I was very nervous about the finance classes. I didn’t know if I was going to succeed or not. If I was going to make it. But I learned a lot from the very beginning. Partly due to the content but also due to my professor, Pete. He was super passionate and knowledgeable, but he still managed to explain things in a way that I, as a non-finance student, could understand.” (06:37)
Despite her initial apprehension, Freja found the finance courses rewarding. Surprisingly, they turned out to be her favorite classes.
Online learning also promotes accessibility, breaking down geographical boundaries to make education available to anyone with an internet connection. Freja’s MBA education was enriched by the diversity of her cohort, with participants hailing from multiple continents.
“My classmates were from all around the world,” Freja says, “from pretty much all continents. And to me that was super interesting and fun to meet people, and get to know people, that I would most likely never have met before.” (05:16)
The global perspective students are able to bring to discussions is highly beneficial in today’s interconnected world, as Freja can attest. She works in the HR department at Sandvik, which has 40,000 employees in 150 countries.
Freja used her thesis to explore the field of learning and development, tying it back to her role in HR. She discovered an interesting insight through her research: even in an age of efficient online training, people strongly desire to meet in the real world. (03:25)
Freja tells us, “I think that was quite interesting because, of course, many topics you can cover through online training or e-learning as well. That’s both more time efficient sometimes, and the quality can be just as high, but people do want to see each other in person as well.” (03:53)
Her conclusion is that hybrid methods, which include some in-person activities, are a winning concept. Thankfully the Digital MBA programs at EU provide provides this as well — students have opportunities to meet up for study trips.
Freja was only able to attend the meetup in Geneva in person. For the other meeting, she and other students who couldn’t attend in person participated digitally.
“It is a different experience meeting people face to face,” Freja says. “So it was fun to get to see them in person and get to know them and hang out both during the different activities that we had together in the classroom and outside of the classroom as well.” (02:22)
Combining online and offline components makes the Digital MBA a comprehensive experience. By embracing the advantages of digital education, students like Freja can pursue their education while maintaining their commitments. The Digital MBA program at EU Business School exemplifies the power of digital education in shaping the future of learning.
You can reach out to an ambassador directly to learn more about studying at EU Business School.
