[Sponsored Article] The new Digital MBA for Global Leaders (DiMBA) being launched by HKUST Business School is groundbreaking in several ways. The two-year, part-time program has been designed specifically for ambitious executives and senior professionals looking to transform their businesses and meet the changing needs of the digital age. To maximise flexibility for students who will be juggling other commitments, courses will be taught via a blended mode of learning. This sees a 50/50 split between self-paced online study and active participation in live virtual classes. It means students can optimise their time, manage priorities as necessary, and continue to learn wherever they are. To ensure the overall experience is the equal of its other highly-ranked MBA formats in terms of in-depth discussion and general involvement, the school has just opened its own state-of-the-art virtual classroom. It is the first such facility in Asia, built with an investment of HK$5 million to offer interactive learning directly comparable to that in a physical classroom. Purpose-designed for the DiMBA, the virtual classroom features a curved wall of 72 large high-definition screens on which individual students appear once they log in for a lecture or seminar. The screens are configured with live synchronous settings, and a professor standing in front to face them – as if in a lecture theatre, but in fact in the broadcast studio at HKUST - can see and address all the students at the same time. Multiple cameras make it possible to show different shots of the professor. The classroom also comes with a real time interactive digital whiteboard which professors can invite students to collaborate simultaneously remotely for greater interactions. A directional audio system makes it simple for a teacher or assistant to locate which person is speaking from the video wall. And since the system allows for direct eye contact and an easy flow of conversation, everyone can engage and interact. When necessary, small groups can even be assigned to virtual breakout rooms, thereby realising the full promise and potential of online learning. Among the supplementary tools available are live polls, where students type in their replies, and instant statistics which, for instance, can gauge involvement by recording how frequently participants raise their hands. In this way, teachers are able to gain a situational awareness of how things are going in a class and can quickly assess what they may need to recap or enliven. To benefit from all this, students require only a standard computer and, of course, to be enrolled for the program. “The new teaching features and highly intuitive tools that come with our virtual classroom will not only encourage a much higher level of class participation, similar to that in a physical classroom, but also set a new standard in e-learning in Hong Kong and beyond,” says Professor Kar Yan Tam, Dean of HKUST Business School. “Thanks to the collective efforts of all faculty and staff, we demonstrated our ability to migrate rapidly to an online teaching mode in 2020. With advances in technology, we believe online education will offer many new possibilities in future, allowing us to deliver executive programs, like our Digital MBA, for learners anywhere in the world.” Classes for the new program begin in February 2022, and everything is on track for a first intake of between 40 and 50 students. Already enquiries have been received from potential applicants in numerous countries, though for practical reasons, those accepted are most likely to be based in Hong Kong’s time zone or an hour either side. The application form can be completed in around 20 minutes, and the accompanying checklist of requirements makes the whole process quite straightforward. Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis over the coming weeks. Everyone who is admitted will be expected to spend an initial week on campus to take part in an immersion program. During the program, there will be an overseas study trip, which students will spend a week at another University. These give them exposure to key international issues and build rapport within the cohort. If situation allows, some may also take the chance to sign up for optional in-person courses. Subsequently, though, they will essentially be studying via the online platform, which will also allow them ready contact with professors and support staff to talk through assignments or iron out any scheduling problems. “The business landscape is evolving,” says Professor Tai Yuan Chen, Associate Dean and MBA program director. “Tomorrow’s leaders need the interdisciplinary knowledge to integrate technology into day-to-day operations and take advantage of digital teamwork. Therefore, our Digital MBA is designed to transform global executives into digital leaders with the all-round skills to succeed in this era of disruption.” Prof. Chen notes that the core courses include corporate finance, accounting and marketing strategy, but then move on to artificial intelligence (AI), big data, blockchain and Python programming. “We also emphasize the importance of a cross-disciplinary approach with courses on green finance, sustainability and even art appreciation,” he says. Visit DiMBA’s program website for the details at https://www.mba.ust.hk/dimba . Or talk to MBA advisor for a 1-on-1 consultation to learn more about our program https://bit.ly/3CzkyXA