Exploring Hybrid Learning for Global Leadership Development

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How Hybrid Learning Helps In Global Leadership Development

24 May 2022
- admin
- Leadership & Management
Leadership

While online education had been slowly growing in popularity over the past few years, it was considered as an adjunct to regular classroom teaching in a hybrid model. The Covid pandemic led to prolonged shutdowns and educational institutions also had to suspend physical classes with students bearing the brunt as learning outcomes started suffering. However, innovation in learning was fueled by regular Zoom classes and thus began the acceptance and realization of the effectiveness of online education. With reputed global universities spearheading and pioneering online learning, the time for online education had arrived.

What began as a workaround to supplement learning, developed into an embrace to online learning and herein a seismic opportunity for students and societies alike. Here was an equal opportunity for all to gain remote access to the best education sitting at home. Industry acceptance also followed with the realization that online learning had the potential to offer the best in terms of world class education with the added advantage of flexibility and affordability. Besides, the key advantage of being able to interact and network with a large community offers an advantage to students to develop a global perspective. Just imagine attending an online tutorial hosted by MIT, the University of Toronto, Harvard Business School, or China Central University in Beijing and being able to interact with learners across continents.

It is in this context that online or hybrid education offers a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills with a global perspective.

What is Global Leadership development and why is it important in the business world?

Global leadership development refers to imbibing skill sets that are key to success of organizations that compete in a global marketplace. When we talk about a global marketplace, we could also include leaders operating in a single country. This is because regardless of operating markets, the vision that a leader carries is a subset of learning that originates from global experiences that can be applied in the local context. Besides, the way business is carried out has changed and even local organizations may depend on global supply and value chains.

Global leadership development encompasses critical thinking, change management, building collaborations and the ability to influence others. Modern organizations place great emphasis on global leadership development and it is getting to be a part of a much wider array of evaluation metrics.

On the other hand, business organizations today have started realizing the need for global leaders. Organizations do tend to benefit from an expanded vision of leadership as leaders often need to increasingly work across cultures and geographies. The business world has started to recognize that one of their biggest challenges is the lack of global leadership skills.

To take a deeper look as to how online or hybrid education can help in Global Leadership Development. Some of the ways are –
- Networking – One of the major skills that professionals need to imbibe is Networking. Networking is important since it helps the professional in his career progression by identifying opportunities, provides exposure to business ideas, information and knowledge, and information on the developments in the industry. It also helps to develop a perspective that is global and appreciates diversity.
  
  Digital learning provides a platform where the learning community has the opportunity to interact with a geographically diverse and multicultural community, connect with professionals spread all over and exchange views. Modern technology offers students the opportunity to interact online in a host of ways like group assignments, online discussions and messaging etc. A great example of this is the International Exchange Program that SOIL runs with institutes like MIP Milan Polytechnic University, where our students get opportunities to engage and interact with students from countries like USA, Germany, China, Ghana, Switzerland and more.
  
  The takeaway is that it allows learners to connect with like-minded professionals around the world. Genuine and positive interaction within these communities enables professionals to grow in their organization and functional roles and eventually be recognized as a leader.
- Expand Viewpoints – The inbuilt features on digital learning foster a culture where students tend to interact with professionals and appreciate viewpoints that transcend beyond geographies, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. This exposes the learners to pathways that go beyond conventional thinking.
  
  They introduce individuals to new ideas and other diverse ways of thinking about issues and problem-solving approaches. Expanding horizons is helpful for leaders as it fosters creative thinking and problem-solving approaches. It leads to new ideas that allow the professional to evolve in their leadership style and position.
- Develops Cross Cultural Perspectives – Cross culture perspectives look at the ability to recognize national, regional, and ethnic diversity in people and methods and the ability to bridge these differences. An appreciation of cross cultural perspectives is developed through interaction with diverse networks in online education. Through interaction with peers from diverse contexts, cross cultural appreciation is developed through exposure, problem-solving and relationship-building. This helps in inculcating global leadership development as it develops and strengthens a humanistic approach that is built on by self-awareness and empathy. Students from the Shizenkan University, Graduate School of Leadership and Innovation, in Japan and students of SOIL together organised a cultural exchange program where each country represented their cultures, history, business practices and took each other through a virtual tour of their favourite aspects. This was an eye opening session for many students, both in India and in Japan, and gave students an immersive opportunity to learn that they otherwise might not have received.
Digital Learning – The Changing Landscape

Technology and innovation have brought quality education to our doorstep. The opportunity to earn an MBA no matter where you are is within reach. The questions that prospective students may ask is “Is the online MBA experience the same as on-campus?” The number of students opting for the online or hybrid MBA is going up exponentially. Virtual or Hybrid MBA and the benefits it offers is adding to the number of students wanting to leverage education to their professional growth.

The misconceptions need to be discarded as we consider the flexibility and obvious advantages. As the business world evolves, there will be a greater demand for business leaders to manage the increasing complexity. The diversity and global vision that the hybrid MBA offers makes the it a viable option for the young professional.

Some important powers that one needs to consider here are –
- Does the MBA course delivery offer opportunities to network with peers or alumni?
- Do the b-school offer student support services like financial aid or career guidance?
- What does the bschool’s employment rates look like?
If you are looking to develop your skills in Global Leadership, SOIL Institute of Management has on offer the one year MBA PGPM. SOIL has a major focus areas on Leadership skills and its impact on student development and its role shaping leaders of consequence.

This course teaches incumbents the relevant skills needed to be a leader in Emerging India with a global vision. Coupled with work experience, it can be a potent launch-pad for young professionals to build a career with top-notch corporations.

The one year MBA provides a foundation in core functional areas and also enables the most transformative leadership experiences through exposure of the student to self-leadership, meditation, compassion, sustainability, mindfulness and ethics along with specialization pathways.

Leadership at SOIL Institute of Management is taught through innovative but effective practices that are aimed at internal and external development of students. Unique practices that build on core and functional learning develop the student personality are self-introspection and leadership, reflective rituals like the morning circle, SOIL designed personality and assessment tests, Appreciative learning through external visits and so much more.