Finding the right blend: Business education in a post-Covid world

Finding the right blend: Business education in a post-Covid world

It wasn't too long ago when schools and universities in the UAE and all over the world had to scramble to move courses online almost overnight. With lockdown restrictions earlier this year and the sustained need for social distancing, many educational institutions including Heriot-Watt University have adopted the blended learning model to overcome the challenges of the pandemic. For the uninitiated, blended learning combines digitally enabled dynamic learning experiences with traditional classroom teaching.

Is blended learning the new buzzword of the education industry? Or is it an absolute necessity, helping students and educators cope with the demands of the new normal?

Understanding blended learning

The overarching goal of blended learning is to combine the most interesting aspects of traditional classroom teaching and direct interaction with the advantages of online learning.

Programmes, learning materials and student experiences developed based on this model have made education more accessible to all kinds of students, especially adult learners, who can benefit from the flexibility to tailor their studies around their work commitments and family obligations.

While blended learning has been around for a while, it has naturally gained momentum in the wake of Covid-19, accelerating the transformational trajectory that the higher education industry has been on for