Preparing the young professionals of tomorrow for the digital revolution should start in the classroom. Here’s why:
There’s no denying it: the future is digital, and disruptive technologies are arriving at an unprecedented speed. The digital revolution has given rise to new business models that are reshaping entire industries, and transforming the way we communicate, do business and learn.
If we want to prepare the young professionals of tomorrow for this digital era, there’s no better place to start than with education. After all, today’s students are already primed: they scroll, click and swipe their way through the day, acquiring and processing information faster than ever before. It’s about time that universities keep pace. And if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that the need is undeniable: Covid-19 has created an extraordinary opportunity to accelerate digitalisation and create a new learning environment that is a better fit for today’s student.
The benefits of digitalisation in education are endless
For students, digitalisation delivers a more realistic learning environment that is more engaging and interactive, promoting higher levels of communication, teamwork, critical thinking and real-world involvement.
Virtual education allows teachers to stay connected with their students at all times, opening learning opportunities for those who might have trouble attending school. It also improves information accessibility, and helps teachers offer a more tailored learning experience that reflects the needs of each student, including those with learning disabilities.
Technology in the classroom plays a critical role in priming future generations on how to thrive in a digital economy. It allows them to learn, hands-on, how technology works and how technology can be leveraged in their future business. It opens a world of new learning opportunities that would be otherwise hard to replicate in the classroom, including virtual tours, virtual reality simulations and demonstrations of abstract concepts.
For education institutions, investing in digitalisation is invaluable – if done correctly. Digitalisation is shaking up every industry, and education is no exception. Those who want to retain their position as leaders in education will need to rethink the entire learning experience so as to deliver on students’ ever-evolving education needs. Those that do will see improvements in overall education quality, staff and student engagement and reap the financial rewards of delivering a more agile, streamlined way of working.
But digital education calls for more than simply making key resources and videos available online; it’s about innovating and transforming the way we teach students, by using digital environments to enhance and complement learning. This doesn’t mean we have to start from scratch – techniques that have worked for over a century are still relevant, they simply need to be complemented with hi-tech capabilities. The best of the old education world combined with the best of the new world is a powerful pairing.
Case study: EHL’s digitalisation journey
The Swiss education system continues to show its position as a leader on an international scale when it comes to digital education.
At the forefront of the digital education revolution lies the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). EHL has capitalised on the tremendous impact that technology can have for students through the adoption of remote and digital education. EHL also continually seeks to create innovative new learning experiences through the adoption of new technologies (such as gamification and virtual reality) in the classroom and push the boundaries of learning as we know it.
Though its digital transformation journey has only just begun, EHL has already seen the benefits – through enhanced student engagement, increased motivation among faculty and greater operational efficiencies. By scaling these digital initiatives even further, EHL aims to further capitalise on its investments, and deliver motivated, curious and entrepreneurial young professionals to the workforce of tomorrow.
EHL is proud to maintain its heritage as a pioneer, innovator and leader in education.
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by Maxime Medina, COO and Deputy CEO, EHL Group