Education and Virtual Team Leadership: The Future is Now

I read a post on the e-Learning Pundit blog today announcing a new MS program in Virtual Team Management and Communication:

The Rabb School at Brandeis University (MA) – will begin teaching an “online only”, 30-credit hour Master of Science in Virtual Team Management and Communication during the Spring 2009 semester.  Total tuition is estimated at just over $21,000. A few colleges around the US teach virtual team-related courses.  However, this is the first dedicated graduate degree that I’ve seen.

That reminded me of a website I found last month about The Deloitte Virtual Team Challenge. This program is a real-time, multi-user business simulation that is played over the course of several weeks by high school students throughout North America.

And that made me think of some of Patrick Dixon’s ideas about virtual teams and the future of education. Here is a brief video of part of one of Dr. Dixon’s speeches:

I guess when it comes to virtual teamwork and education the future is now; it will be enlightening to see more programs like these emerge and observe how educational institutions at all levels adapt to the changing global business landscape.