HBS Spends Millions for Hybrid Classrooms
Harvard Business School has invested “tens of millions of dollars” converting 16 classrooms into hybrid format for current MBA students. According to new HBS Dean Srikant M. Datar, this cost was well worth it.
In a Zoom Webinar session with HBS alumni on April 27th, Datar expressed his view that COVID had accelerated this much needed change. And that the pandemic fueled much of the innovation for new possibilities for MBA students. These changes could also ultimately allow the school to invite alumni into elective classes remotely too.
“I’ve said that COVID is the passage to HBS’ future,” he told alums during the session. “Why do I say that? Because we have done things in a few months with the hybrid class that would certainly have taken years to do. The hybrid classroom is relatively unique. Participants online report very positive experiences. Students have been happy with and grateful for the hybrid classrooms. Alumni interested in learning new materials will be able to appear in the hybrid classrooms at some point going forward as we get to a little more normalcy.”
The renovations were extensive and largely funded by alumni. “The hybrid classrooms and the return to campus which we did in a very forward looking way required tens of millions of dollars in investments in technology and making the campus safe for the community,” said Datar. “And we were only able to make these investments because of you.”
The school installed and retrofitted new equipment for 16 classrooms. By August 21st, ten classrooms were completed for second year classes. Soon after, the remaining six were finished in October last year. Just in time for the first year cohort to move from all-remote classes to the hybrid format.
Datar stated the changes in the MBA program are a result of investments from alumni. Including adding the asynchronous materials into HBS classes. Data states, “We will remain participant-centered but there are some fun opportunities in terms of pedagogy,” he said.
According to Poets&Quants, each classroom now has three 85-inch video displays on the back wall, a new cubby for two 4K cameras, 45 new components in the technology closet, HVAC systems, and modifications for safety and social distancing.
Furthermore, Poets&Quants stated that remote students believed that their classmates seemed too far away. This would hinder them from participating in class debates. HBS took this into consideration and made the new adjustments. The result? Remote students can now read the chalkboards, see their classmates individually, watch the professor, raise their hands and ultimately participate with ease. Ultimately, these changes could allow the school to invite alumni into elective classes remotely.
In closing Datar stated, “What has been fabulous is the opportunities that one can see in front of us. A very pleasant surprise is how quickly we were able to pivot and how well we were able to deliver.”