At the 2025 Annual Conference of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), held in Tucson, Arizona, Westfield Business School was highlighted as a leading innovator in online education. During the session titled “Evolving the Online Case Method: Navigating AI Challenges for Generation Z Learners,” Provost and Academic Vice President Ignacio Maroto presented the core principles of Westfield 3.0, the school’s signature methodology applied across all MBA programs.
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) is a U.S.-based accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education and CHEA. It ensures that distance learning institutions meet high standards of academic quality, integrity, and effectiveness.
This year’s DEAC Annual Conference theme, “Navigating Challenges: Charting the Way Forward,” called on institutions to address emerging challenges—like digital transformation and AI—with resilience and foresight. Westfield Business School’s active participation and public recognition at the event underscore its leadership in navigating and shaping the future of higher education.
What is Westfield 3.0?
Westfield 3.0 is a dynamic, student-centered educational model rooted in active learning and built around the case method. The methodology is delivered in a hybrid format that blends synchronous and asynchronous components, ensuring flexibility without compromising academic rigor.
- Synchronous Activities:
In live sessions, students engage in structured debates and oral presentations analyzing real-world cases. These cases are selected to align with the subject matter being studied and are examined through the lens of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL): People, Planet & Profit. This fosters a well-rounded, ethical, and sustainable business perspective. - Asynchronous Activities:
Students access learning materials — videos, readings, and assignments — at their own pace. A key feature is the individual case introspection, a reflective activity that also incorporates TBL analysis, allowing students to connect theory to practice and strengthen their critical thinking.
This model integrates technological tools, including AI-based platforms, as support mechanisms rather than replacements for student engagement, ensuring that learners develop their own voice, reasoning, and decision-making skills in each case.
Institutional Recognition at DEAC 2025
The relevance of this approach was underscored during the conference’s final session — the Annual Business Meeting, reserved for accredited institutions. There, Myk Garn, a member of the DEAC Board, publicly cited Westfield Business School and the session led by Ignacio Maroto as a standout example of how higher education institutions can effectively adapt to the growing impact of artificial intelligence.
This recognition reinforces Westfield Business School’s position as a leader in digital academic innovation, committed to preparing professionals who are equipped to lead with purpose in a fast-evolving world.
