Online graduate-level student learning and engagement: developing critical competencies for future leadership roles: an evaluation study

2019-01-14Traditional business schools are facing a radical transformation as they serve the next generation of students, face new technology-based competitors, and ensure graduates have all of the skills and competencies they need to step into business roles. This evaluation study explored how the Online Learning Team at the University of Future Leaders (UFL), a pseudonym for a large private research university business school in the western United States, took an important step forward in developing the next generation of business leaders. Using the Clark and Estes (2008) gap analysis as the conceptual framework, this qualitative study evaluated the Online Learning Team’s organizational performance and determined the knowledge, motivational, and organizational influences that impacted the team’s ability to understand and impact student learning and engagement in an online, graduate-level setting. The key findings from this study revealed that the Online Learning Team was both knowledgeable and motivated about developing new, innovative solutions for improving student learning and engagement, and clearly understood the critical competencies their graduate students need for future success. The findings also identified several opportunities for organizational growth including the need to develop and communicate formal goals and key performance measures, create tracking systems, build opportunities for faculty development, and improve awareness with university leaders. The study concludes with a recommendation to develop a strategic plan that addresses each of these areas and an evaluation plan which, once implemented, will help the Online Learning Team assess strategic outcomes