The landscape of higher education is evolving. Technology is developing at a rapid pace. At the same time, competition is increasing, and the demands of both students and employers are changing as industries and societies continue to integrate tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

Digital transformation is changing the way businesses work. Whether a business generates revenue through client services, media, or consumer goods, technological innovations can transform production, distribution, and even brand-client relationships.

Born in a time of smart phones and social media, Filipino business students are not immune to these changes. In their desire to stand out in their future careers, Filipino learners want flexible programs and opportunities to develop skills for career advancement.

Faced with these shifts, business educators must position their institutions to effectively address these new realities. Business schools must become more adaptable, flexible, and agile in the ways they approach student development and academic offerings.

Here are ways universities are meeting the demands of today’s business students:

1. Going digital

With how reliant today’s industries are on technology, digital skills are necessary for future professionals to stay competitive. When thinking about digital literacy, it’s not enough to have the knowledge to use digital tools. More importantly, it’s about using these tools to solve problems, collaborate across communities and to build new skills that can enhance future careers.

By going digital, universities can streamline processes like admissions and recruitment. However, the benefits of digital transforming education go beyond administrative processes. With digital learning, educators can tailor teaching strategies based on the needs of individuals. Educational content can also become more accessible, providing solutions for students who learn in different ways.

2. Enhanced collaboration

Research shows that educational experiences that are interactive and social lead to deeper learning. For educators, introducing collaborative learning methods can develop higher-level thinking, oral communication, and leadership skills.

With the rapid development of technology, collaboration can now transpire not only between classmates, but also between learners from different universities. Inter-university collaboration has been proven to raise the value propositions of universities – providing students with opportunities to learn and build their networks.

3. Building student-teacher trust

Trust plays a significant role in the growth of every stakeholder in a university. Building trust and establishing a good rapport between students and teachers is crucial in creating safe spaces for learning.

Colleges that excel at building trust empower students to confidently express themselves. They become more active in discussions and more welcoming towards receiving feedback and support which will become an indispensable asset in their future business careers.

4. Providing work-integrated learning opportunities

Work-integrated learning is the process of placing students into work environments to apply the knowledge and skills gained through education. These types of opportunities expose students to real-life situations that employers in their desired industries deal with daily. For students, the benefits of going to a college with work-integrated learning include enhanced soft skills and boosted employment prospects.

Some universities offer internships as part of their course curricula as well as student immersion programs with partner universities. One institution that offers a variety of learning opportunities is Mapúa University. Thanks to a collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU), Mapúa University offers programs such as the ASU Summer Experience where learners can experience student life at the #1 university in the US for innovation.

These types of initiatives are invaluable when it comes to developing the skills in learners to start their careers either here or abroad.

5. Partnerships and collaborations with global universities

Inter-collegiate collaborations create unique value propositions for universities. They can provide academic and co-curricular offerings to students that were previously closed off to them. Thanks to developments in technology, institutions can now collaborate or partner with other schools that share the same vision for education without worrying about geography or proximity.

For higher education to remain a foundational pillar of society and to equip students with the knowledge and skills to impact their communities, institutions must meet today’s challenges head-on. This is why institutions such as Mapúa University are finding ways to meet what students need now. Thanks to their groundbreaking collaboration with ASU, Mapúa University offers real-world experiential learning, and world class educational content to ensure globally competitive future professionals in the fields of business and health sciences.

Enrollment for A.Y. 2024-2025 is now ongoing. Interested incoming freshmen can apply here. visit https://admissions.mapua.edu.ph/Default.aspx