Global b-schools pitch for collaborative classrooms

Global Network for Advanced Management (GNAM), a group of 28 global b-schools led by the Yale School of Management in the US, is pitching for a collaborative approach in offering courses to students on their respective campuses.

Addressing a roundtable discussion hosted by IIM-Bangalore, in which deans and directors of GNAM participated, Edward A Snyder, Dean, Yale School of Management, said contents vary from small classroom teaching to big virtual classrooms such as MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses).

Different from MOOCs “One doesn’t get to know the classmates in MOOCs. GNAM offers a collaborative approach. It is nicer to be in a classroom and interacting with fellow students than sitting before a computer,” Snyder said.

“While teachers sits at home (parent institution), students move around in schools in different countries. Here there is no money exchanged. No bureaucracy but operates on mutual respect. In this model, only the travel and accommodation costs have to be borne by the travelling students,” he said.

Synchronised calendar Snyder said that about 18-19 schools synchronised their calendar last March to offer what the school is good at. He said GNAM, which is in its fourth year, has already met eight times and has been finetuning the collaborative model of teaching.

“We have connected in short period of time. This network is offering virtual learning and select online training,” he added.

Sushil Vachani, Director, IIMB, said GNAM provides high quality interaction as compared to plain teaching.

“GNAM’s collaborative initiative provides expertise to all 28 schools simultaneously The whole network is available for one institute or individual. GNAM ensures faculty collaboration to develop courses. Richness of content is enhanced through networking methods,” he said.

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