Assessing the Effectiveness of Experiential Learning in Hybrid Management Education

Experiential learning provides efficiency in enhancing the training and development of management students and the application of knowledge as well. However, the evaluation of such initiatives presents more than one method of assessment since their impact is hardly easy to quantify. As to the evaluation of the effectiveness of the chosen approach to the development of master’s degree students’ competencies, this chapter examines the following aspects: the formulation of learning objectives, the choice of the assessment criteria, data integration, considering the long-term perspective on the students’ competencies’ development, and challenges. When using such stringent and elaborate assessment model, the educators will be in a position to determine whether or not the type of learning that is being offered in an experiential learning program is fit for purposes and whether or not students are being equipped with right type of skills at workplace. Thus, the concept of Theory and Practice, known as ‘Experiential Learning’, which involves internship, simulations and actual projects is just but essential in modern management education. It also helps to overcome the gap between theory and practice: critical thinking, problem, solving, team work, and communication skills. However, in order to sum up the efficacy of such programs, it is necessary to use a set of approaches more complex than the ones outlined above.