Forging the Future of Experiential Learning: Developing Leaders Through Remote Experiential Consulting Project Courses

Abstract

Gannon University faculty have embraced a variety of pedagogies and technologies to create a remote synchronous experiential consulting program that helps develop leadership competencies in global students. Recent global events have set the stage for development of new pedagogies which prepare students to become members of inclusive highly productive globally distributed teams. Depending on the class, students embrace remote technologies to collaborate and serve as consultants who work closely with real-world clients to either develop implementation road maps for clients to embrace big data capabilities or to develop comprehensive strategic business plans that incorporate big data capabilities for true strategic advantage. Through synergistic collaboration with a variety of external incubators and networks, school of business faculty provide students with team-based semester-long remote experiential client consulting projects that incorporate all requisite content for their assigned courses. Faculty serve as instructors, mentors, and coaches. Instruction transcends into environments that simulate guided internship experiences that enhance students’ learning journey to leadership.