Dr. Gerardo Heckmann

Invited Speech: Industry engagement to foster digital and cultural competencies in the Global North and South - Bridging graduate business education and industry –

Abstract:

In professional programs, balancing academic teaching with practical application and adaptation in organizations is essential. Business Schools often face the challenge of offering truly international exchange experiences, particularly for students from remote geographical locations or with limited disposable income. The shift towards online learning during the pandemic erased geographical barriers but highlighted the need for soft skills in digital professional environments. This presentation shares an experience that illustrates the benefits of a digital cross-cultural collaboration providing industry engagement to graduate students in business and accounting from a Canadian and an Argentinean university.

We present a continuum of collaborations with industry professionals in graduate studies, ranging from guest lectures and live cases to a comprehensive co-teaching model. The co-teaching experience involves a 12-week course delivered online, co-taught by a professor and multiple senior industry managers. Students work in small, culturally diverse groups with each manager over three-week periods, acting as advisors and proposing solutions to limited-scope issues their companies are experiencing.

This virtual exchange initiative effectively bridges cultural boundaries and fosters digital professional work environments. Our experience demonstrates three main contributions of this intensive industry engagement model: 1) it enriches students’ understanding of intercultural and digital competences in a professional environment; 2) it fosters global mindsets and builds soft skills for digital work contexts; and 3) it enhances industry engagement with academia, resulting in graduates who are mature enough to take leading roles in organizations not confined to local markets.