London Business School To Open Campus Sept. 7

Aerial view of the London Business School

London Business School today (May 19) announced that it plans to open its campus to students on Sept. 7 with online classes for a brief period of time until moving to a hybrid model of teaching two weeks later on Sept. 21.

“The hybrid model of delivery will give us the flexibility to adjust to the evolving pandemic context,” said Kerstin Kehren, a spokesperson for the school. “While we are committed to the aforementioned dates, we want to also acknowledge that public health considerations and UK Government advice may require us to revisit this timetable. “

Cambridge Judge Business School, meantime, is taking a similar approach to LBS. “Cambridge Judge Business School will be open to welcome students to Cambridge, offering face-to-face interactive sessions with leading academics which will be blended with online provision, to safeguard well-being,” according to a statement. The school added that a blended program allows the “flexiblity to adjust our approach as the academic year progresses and according to the evolving  context of the global pandemic.”

FOLLOWS DECISIONS BY WHARTON AND COLUMBIA TO OPEN WITH HYBRID MODELS

London Business School is deciding to open with a blended format just as the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and Columbia Business School announced earlier. By moving to both in-person and virtual student participation starting Sept. 21, London Business School said it can “accommodate various challenges that students and the school will face in the lead up to the resumption of campus teaching.

“We understand that some students studying at our London campus may not be able to return to the U.K. immediately and may be subject to a short period of quarantine on their arrival here,” added Kehren. “We have delayed the start of all in-person teaching until 21 September 2020 as a result. Those few students who may be temporarily unable to join us at our London campus by that date will still be able to take part in their classes virtually as part of the new hybrid model.

Students who wish to visit the London campus and meet their peers prior to the start of in-person teaching will be able to do so from 7 September 2020.

“We understand that students and admits to our Executive MBA Dubai program need similar assurances and we are working hard to finalize dates for the commencement of in-person teaching at our Dubai campus. We hope to be able to share an update on this matter in the not-too-distant future.”

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