Digital technology liberalizes traditional classrooms

- University of Manchester China Centre Director interviewed by Tencent.com

On Friday 27^th July, the University of Manchester China Centre Director, Ms. Sherry Fu was interviewed by Tencent Education for her views on transnational education and an increasingly modern format of learning, blending in digital classrooms and highly interactive face-to-face workshops.

During the interview, Ms. Fu was asked to review the impact of the University of Manchester China Centre has made in the regional market, bringing Manchester’s international management education to Chinese professionals.

“As one of UK’s first Business Schools, we introduced the Global MBA programme to Chinese professionals in 2008 by establishing a regional Centre at the heart of Shanghai. Currently our MBA is ranked 4^th in UK, 10^th in Europe and 36^th globally by Financial Times in 2018. From senior management professionals to innovative entrepreneurs, we have been facilitating career successes of over 1000 China-based students and alumni, adding to the Manchester Global MBA international alumni network of over 60,000 students and alumni from 176 countries. From focusing on business school programmes, we took responsibility to become the University’s overseas centre on 26^th September 2016.”

When asked for views on the increasingly popular format of digital learning, Sherry shared her views with efforts and achievements that have been made at Manchester.

“The impact of digitalization is huge on all industries and our daily life. This has also been highly noticeable in education. The amount of information made accessible to students via digital platforms has multiplied greatly over the years. As a result, this makes it possible for traditional lecturing to be replaced by information assembly on the web. In Manchester teaching today, we emphasize on interactive workshop learning, where students work together and learn from each other. If I may quote Prof. Peter Kawalek, one of our leading academics in digitalization and strategy, ‘Thanks to technology; we can liberalize classroom with more socialization, interesting discussions, workshop, and problem-solving.’ In other words, human experience is enhanced using digital methods of learning. Our students are offered a state-of-the-art online learning platform to access rich literature and learning tools, at the same time, highlights the learning experience with highly interactive residential workshops.”

Sherry also shared key points featuring Manchester Global MBA during the interview.

“We are a two-year part-time global MBA programme delivered by a highly reputable international faculty of academics and business practitioners. We follow the ‘Manchester Method’ where practical knowledge is at the very heart of the programme. Students will have the option to study in seven global locations including home campus in Manchester, overseas centres in Brazil, Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore, as well as facilities in Washington D.C. We are a truly international programme!”

Towards the end of the interview, Ms. Sherry Fu also shared that the Centre was dedicated in strengthening partnerships with local Universities, Shanghai Tong Ji University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University in providing jointly delivered programmes. The Centre has also formed and is building up more strategic relationships with corporates in providing more tailored talent solutions. In addition to Manchester Global MBA, Kelley-Manchester Global MBA, a list of specialist Masters programmes will officially be launched soon. Application for MSc International Healthcare Leadership programme to start in March 2019 is now open. More details are available on website www.uom.ac.cn and from the official wechat account mbs_china.

Admission Team | MBS China Centre

Manchester Business School | The University of Manchester | Suite 604, 6/F| 1376 Nanjing Road West | Shanghai 200040 | Tel +86 (0) 21 6279 8660 | Fax +86 (0) 21 6279 8658

MBS China Centre Programmes: Global MBA;

MSc International Healthcare Leadership