An Mba Is An Mba

By Author: George Freeman
Total Articles: 52
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The belief that classroom MBAs have an edge over online MBAs is a wrong notion. If there is a difference between two MBAs, it is the difference of the content itself in the programme they pursued and the labour they put in to get the degree.

There is a misconception that MBAs you get within a conventional classroom are better than the ones you get inside the comfort of your own house. Actually, there is no substance in the notion. An MBA is an MBA and it does not matter where it has come from.

In fact, an online MBA has the same content as you will get in a classroom programme. Most students take up an MBA with specialisations such as Marketing, Finance and Employee Relations. There is nothing as such in the content of these courses which will provide the classroom students with an edge over the people who have pursued an online course.

If there is a difference, it is of the labour the students put in, not the medium of teaching. Another factor which can make the difference is the content itself. A programme offered by a reputable institution will definitely have better content than the one which does ...
... not have the instructors of that quality on its panel. The manner in which an online course is offered also counts. Esteemed institutions will back up the programme with online library and peers support. On the contrary, a sub-standard programme will offer no back-up arrangement.

If you ask a person about their opinion on the online versus conventional MBA debate, the answer depends on who you talk to. An average person born after 1990 has had regular Internet education exposure and will not feel alien while working on it. However, the pre-1990 generation will usually not have that kind of exposure to online education as they have done their regular studies in a classroom environment. The answer to your question will also depend on their age and educational background.

There are institutions which recognised the role the Internet was going to play in the field of higher education early and began offering their courses in the new medium. However, there were institutions which held on to the outdated ways of teaching and went online later. It was very natural for them to lag behind the early entrants. When you choose an institution for your online MBA degree, you must factor in this as well, although it is not necessarily true for all the institutions.

Online MBA courses are mostly preferred by working professionals, who don’t have the time to take up a regular course. However, they need to acquire formal business education to enhance their careers. Online courses provide an opportunity to them to get professional education without taking a sabbatical from the job. Employers also encourage their staff to pursue such courses as gaining more skills will help the business.

Many MBA students, who have pursued a regular course, have a sense of entitlement. However, when in role, any company will look at the contribution of the person to the organisation and not the classroom they attended. So, it really does not make any difference. What really matters is the hard skills and soft skills you have learnt. It is your skills which will make the difference.

The author of this article recommends the University of Leicester School of Management. For a business management degree, it is considered among the top institutions in the UK.