Jessica Zhang, HBA ’18, was Director for the World Health Organization for the National High School Model United Nations Conference – an event in March for more than 5,000 students from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. She writes about the value of case learning to her experiences.
In early March, 2018, I had the pleasure of serving as the Director of the World Health Organization for the National High School Model United Nations conference (NHSMUN). As the world’s largest conference of its kind, NHSMUN simulates the real-world United Nations scenarios while educating more than 5,000 students across the world from 100 countries regarding diplomacy and debate.
During my past three years with the organization, I have debated and discussed topics ranging from the economic and social empowerment of women in rural developing regions, to the importance of decreasing fertility rates in developing countries. Most importantly, I have recognized the unprecedented importance of learning through real-life simulations and scenarios.
At Ivey Business School, we strive to build a foundation of knowledge based on real-world learning through business cases. At times, we may take for granted the value of this learning approach, and thereby undermine its value. However, while directing a political simulation, I found myself drawing on aspects I have learned in my Ivey education to help me better navigate each situation. For example, the case-based learning method provides not only the ability to be in the shoes of the protagonist, but the in-class discussions better allow for a diverse range of opinions and viewpoints to be shared and debated.
This calibre of discussion and ability to simulate a real-world scenario in the workplace, in class, or even in the United Nations, is unsurpassable. The ability to navigate difficult solutions, compromise on polarizing viewpoints, and negotiate a solution is not an aspect that can be taught through a textbook.
In the end, I believe this way of teaching business has not only provided me with the quantitative skills to navigate beyond my undergraduate education, but also the qualitative skills that are extremely valuable in the real world.
