HEC Paris leverages technology to drive development of leaders at Qatar Foundation

HEC Paris, ranked #1 in the most recent Financial Times European Business Schools Rankings, is ensuring the continuity of Qatar Foundation’s executive education schedule by transforming its Executive Leaders Program 2021 to a technology-enhanced format. The program, to be delivered to 30 Qatar Foundation managers and leaders, was originally planned to be delivered in a conventional classroom setting. The move online comes as HEC Paris in Qatar Dean and Academic Director of the program, Professor Pablo Martin de Holan, forecasts that digitally-enhanced, socially-distanced learning will become a mainstream of executive education in the post-COVID world.

“There are many advantages to technology-enabled learning, not least that it gives participants access to a much wider range of global faculty and also the possibility of adjusting the speed of their own learning, taking more time for what is difficult and less for the things that come easy” he explained. “Online learning was a trend that was already gaining momentum prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has accelerated throughout the world and has met with considerable success, especially in world-class institutions such as HEC Paris. Looking to the future, it will be increasingly sought after as we move into the post-COVID times.”

This year’s high impact Executive Leaders Program, the fourth cohort in the Qatar Foundation series, will be delivered in seven modules spread over seven months from March until December. The modules will comprise live virtual sessions, business simulations and experiential learning activities. The pedagogic approach includes case studies covering a range of topics, such as dynamic leadership, strategic thinking and education, leading an organization in a digital world, strategic business management simulation and leading teams towards innovation. World renowned faculty of HEC Paris will deliver the program, all of whom have been carefully selected to meet Qatar Foundation’s needs to their field experience and skills.

“In an ever-changing environment, skills should be continuously cultivated.  This is what learning does: it takes learners outside of their comfort zone, and helps them enhance their existing skills and develop new ones in a safe environment. HEC Paris continues to innovate and expand the scope of its use of technology in the classroom to offer learners and corporate clients worldwide solutions which are flexible, relevant and deliver clear learning outcomes that are actionable for the person and their organization,” explained Dean Martin de Holan. “The enhanced flexibility of good online learning increases productivity as senior managers and directors no longer need to leave their workplace to travel to a learning venue.  Our professors will continue to deliver outstanding learning experiences, leveraging pedagogical tools enabled by new technologies and deployed in a way that enhances learning outcomes. Qatar Foundation has again demonstrated its strong commitment to the professional development of its future leaders, and at HEC Paris in Qatar we are proud of the digitally enhanced program we have designed for QF.”