Discover how the Global MBA at EDHEC Business School goes beyond traditional learning methods to engage students in action learning. Through various live business projects, students gain invaluable hands-on experience and opportunities to network with business leaders.
Many skills that business leaders need can’t be found in a textbook. As employers increasingly seek graduates who can apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, university education must go beyond theory. New forms of teaching are steadily gaining traction.
Action learning is a key component of education at EDHEC Business School, representing a new form of teaching. This type of learning directly confronts real-world business challenges, making theoretical knowledge applicable and dynamic.
Global MBA Program Director, Sandra Richez, says, “Action learning to me means using real cases, live cases, things that are happening in business right now.” (00:04)
Programs like the Global MBA at EDHEC Business School incorporate action learning into their curriculum through numerous experiential learning projects. This prepares students for real-world challenges after graduation. Equipping students with experiences, skills, and theory gives them a solid foundation for their future careers.
Let’s explore what action learning is and how it is incorporated into the Global MBA curriculum. Additionally, let’s delve into how holistic business education can prepare the next generation of business leaders.
Action learning is a type of experiential learning that focuses on collaboration, problem-solving, teamwork, and reflection.
“Taking applied learning cases and situations really helps the learning stick. When you do something, when you’ve really exercised all the different areas of analyzing research and actually doing and putting it into action for an actual company, it’s a much more holistic experience.” (00:44)
Holistic learning engages both sides of the brain, helping with knowledge retention and improving attentiveness in students. Additionally, students take pride in real-world results and discover which topics most interest them through experience.
Students gain more in-depth knowledge through hands-on activities and applied learning. It is a more proactive approach as compared to traditional lectures and case study formats. EDHEC Business School seamlessly weaves cutting-edge tactile learning into its courses, particularly in the Global MBA program.
Let’s take a closer look at some examples of experiential learning projects in the Global MBA program and what they entail.
Companies are currently undergoing massive changes and desire innovative thinkers to help them adapt and evolve.
The Global MBA program challenges students through live business projects. They work directly with partnering companies. Students work on real-world projects that address topical industry concerns, such as sustainability and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
“It creates amazing memories for the students, but also for the firms that are providing these projects,” says Director Richez. (01:05)
The EDHEC Global MBA program is intense and immersive, both in its duration and the number of courses that students take. “It’s such an action-packed MBA, and you’re constantly in contact with business throughout your studies.” (02:55)
Students have the unique opportunity to start working on strategic projects and building their professional network before graduating.
“You’re kind of in the driver’s seat, put right in front of employers, right in front of companies that maybe one day will be your clients, maybe one day will be your employers, and you’re asked to, already before you have your degree, start working on strategic projects,” Director Richez elaborates. (02:34)
The Global MBA program curriculum incorporates experiential learning projects such as the Sustainable Impact Challenge, the Consulting Project, and the Hackathon.
The Sustainable Impact Challenge reflects EDHEC Business School’s commitment to sustainability. Their mission is to develop leaders who will positively impact the world. The school’s focus on sustainability has been widely recognized, including by the Financial Times.
The Sustainable Impact Challenge pushes students to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students collaborate in teams to develop solutions for real-life challenges.
“The projects that companies give us are often…what’s on the top of their list right now, in terms of concerns that companies have.” (00:11)
The Sustainable Impact Challenge goes beyond the academic sphere. The student projects address topical and relevant issues. This lends a sense of urgency to the projects and pushes students to learn about responsible leadership.
For the Consulting Project, students engage with high-profile companies from a variety of sectors. Working in small, international teams, students must engage with a specific issue for their client. Students have previously worked with companies such as Johnson-Johnson, Airbus helicopters, and many other companies.
Students engage with strategy development, market analysis, and project management. They develop their business acumen, problem-solving, critical thinking, and leadership skills.
Previous MBA consulting projects have included launching a new product in the international market, conducting global surveys, revising business plans for start-ups, and more.
In addition to this, by working in international teams, students learn to work as a team and collaborate productively.
With campuses in France, UK, and Singapore, EDHEC Business School boasts a diverse student population. Students are exposed to various cultures in the classroom through their peers and professors. Through hands-on projects, Global MBA students also learn how to overcome cultural differences in a professional setting. This prepares them for an international workplace after graduation.
The Consulting Project is a great advantage. It equips students with the confidence and skills to thrive in business environments.
The Global MBA Hackathon helps students learn how to manage a tight deadline in a high-pressure scenario. Students must tackle a strategic issue that a partnering company is facing. They then present a solution in twenty-four hours.
“It’s really a twenty-four-hour project, and the idea is to take a strategic issue that a company wants to dig deeper into and then work very hard for twenty-four hours on it and then come back to the company with solutions that you come up with as a team.” (01:54)
This intense, collaborative effort mirrors the pressures and demands of real business leadership. The project pushes students to solve complex problems under a tight deadline. Students also have the opportunity to showcase their decision-making and leadership skills.
The event ends with a networking event where students meet with industry professionals and alumni.
In summary, EDHEC Business School takes its education to the next level through action learning. During the Global MBA program, students gain invaluable hands-on experience and life-long skills.
Collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills are highly valuable transferable skills that set graduates up for success in a variety of industry sectors.
Having tangible project results, hands-on experience, and industry connections under their belt sets Global MBA graduates apart from their counterparts in the workforce. Equipped with these new tools, EDHEC graduates can thrive in the dynamic and ever-changing business world.
Find out more about EDHEC Business School and its Global MBA program.
