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Session Evaluation

Practice & Research Briefs

Innovation in Program Design

Research and Practice Briefs

Innovative Hybrid Models: Expanding Access to Skills Based Learning

Tuesday, October 21, 2025
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM CST
This session presents an innovative hybrid model showing how universities can design and deliver their own short-term, skills-based global programs on their own or with minimal assistance from external providers. Using a Nestlé case study in Barcelona, we demonstrate how combining asynchronous pre-departure learning with intensive, in-country project-based experiences delivers portfolio-ready outcomes in just 2 weeks, while remaining cost-effective, scalable, and adaptable across disciplines.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how universities can lead short-term, skills-based international programs independently or with minimal external support, increasing access and reducing costs.
  • Understand strategies to integrate asynchronous pre-departure learning with concentrated in-country project work to maximize measurable, career-ready skills.
  • Explore methods to design adaptable, cross-disciplinary programs that provide students with tangible deliverables, teamwork experience, and cross-cultural competencies.