Host Action Learning Experiences
A key feature of MIT Sloan’s “mind and hand” (mens et manus) philosophy is Action Learning, an innovative approach that accelerates learning through hands-on practice. At ASB, we believe the most impactful learning occurs when theory is actively applied, emphasizing real-world practice and application as the cornerstone of effective education.
What is Action Learning?
Action Learning is the cornerstone of the MBA at ASB. Students apply what they have learnt in the classroom to real business challenges in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, with expert guidance from ASB faculty advisors and business coaches.
This distinctive approach fosters valuable industry collaborations at ASB. Host organizations may offer a range of business challenges across various industries and functions, as identified by the host.
Action Learning’s ultimate goal is to immerse students in real-life business situations aimed at maximizing leadership growth and providing business exposure that they can apply to their own organizations and careers.
Get Involved
Three Immersive Ways to Host an Action Learning Experience:
Practicum:
Over one week, students work as a class, broken in small teams, to tackle key business and operational challenges of the host organisation in Malaysia or Southeast Asia.
Team Projects:
Over a course of 3+ weeks, students work in small teams of three to five people and apply their learnings at a host organisation in and around Southeast Asia.
Summer Program (ALSP):
As individuals, students spend four to ten weeks applying the Action Learning approach to address the needs of a host organisation.
Fresh Perspectives
- Access experienced talent with an average of 7+ years of experience.
- Receive fresh, new perspectives from an international, cross-functional, and multidisciplinary team.
Application of Theory & Frameworks
- Application of business tools and frameworks.
- Access to research efforts from leading institutions like MIT Sloan and ASB.
Recommendations for Your Company
- Dissemination of information.
- Receive countermeasures.
Benefits of Becoming a Host
By guiding students through well-scoped projects, hosts receive access to motivated, hard-working future leaders eager to make their mark on your company and the world.
Steps on Hosting an Action Learning Experience
01
Review the Action Learning hosting experiences and suitability for your organization.
02
Explore your organisations current and upcoming business challenge(s).
03
Action Learning At ASB : At A Glance
The Action Learning Pedagogy
As part of the MBA journey, ASB students navigate between classroom sessions immersed in the latest theoretical tools and frameworks taught by faculty from ASB and MIT Sloan.
Action Learning enmeshes this knowledge with practical on-site experiences in diverse industry settings across Asia.
Working collaboratively in diverse teams or individually, students receive supervision from our esteemed faculty and experienced business coaches.
The Action Learning pedagogy is an iterative process—anchored in the ASB Problem-Solving Flywheel—that strengthens students’ business and collaboration skills while enabling them to collect and analyze primary data to address real-world challenges. Through this hands-on approach, they are able to generate sound and actionable insights across the diverse and rapidly evolving Asian business landscape, including multinationals, family businesses and conglomerates, SMEs, not-for-profit organizations, and startups.
ASB Problem-Solving Flywheel: The 5-Step Approach
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Host Companies Testimonials
The MBA team worked like top consultants who had a few years of experience, under their belt. They were a fantastic group, bringing in a lot of insights, analysis and conclusions due to the diversity in the team.
It was a great experience for both us and the MBA team. They were all very resourceful, agile, and brave, they managed to build meaningful relationship with not just HR (host area) but other departments as well.
What an incredible array of professional talent, creativity, passion and energy. PTC’s future is becoming much brighter thanks to ASB's amazing AL Program.
