Is a Distance MBA Worth It? Seeking Advice on Career Impact and Best Universities

Dear Friends, Hope you are all doing well. I have a doubt which I can post here for effective solutions. I am presently residing in South India. My question is, "Is it effective to learn MBA in distant mode?" I have heard from many that a regular MBA has more scope than distance mode. I am confused, please help me in this regard. If I can pursue an MBA in distant mode, which university is good with job placements?

Thank you in advance.

If you are working, then definitely it will add value; otherwise, you can consider a one-year executive program from IIM, XLRI, etc.

Regards

Distance MBA: Is It Worth It?

An MBA in distance mode is not of much use; you won't gain real experience. I did my MBA in distance mode, and it's not very beneficial. Most companies won't even consider an MBA earned through distance learning. 

Regards

Yeah, I do agree with [Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]. A professional degree in distance mode will not serve the real purpose of study. In that, you can gain one more paper (a so-called certificate). That's all. If you go to college, the student-professor interaction will yield good results, enabling you to acquire good knowledge.

If you are working somewhere, then there will be a problem attending regular courses; however, you can opt for evening classes. In the worst case, you can pursue any correspondence course available in almost all universities.

All the best, Ms. Varsha

Distance Learning: A Balanced Perspective

I am not going to term Distance Learning as good or bad per se! A blanket pronouncement in such matters is not necessary.

Let us look at it this way. Management education is not something you acquire merely from books or reading material, nor through a "teacher-taught" relationship. It is more about "learning" than being "taught."

If distance learning coexists with a strong, supportive work environment where competent, experienced professionals help you build bridges between theory and practice, I believe your learning can be faster, better, deeper, and more value-additive than otherwise. Even after a regular MBA, to learn reality, you will (and in fact do) need a similar work and professional environment. Learning hands-on, simultaneously with internalizing the conceptual inputs, can be very enriching, but that will depend largely on the individual—his/her commitment, effort, enthusiasm, and willingness to walk that extra mile. If that does not happen, anyone will fail.

The long and the short of the issue is the individual's capacity to internalize concepts, knowledge, and techniques.

A regular MBA is a logical choice for those who are yet to complete formal academic education, but to expect an individual to leave employment for a full-time MBA may not be wise, right, or even economical. The development of faculties of a grown-up is different from that of a youngster. He perhaps can comprehend reality in more of its dimensions than inexperienced youngsters. Distance Learning could help him if he handles the flow of inputs capably.

A final word for the time being! You will come across rank inadequate regular MBA programs and some excellent Distance Learning programs. Evidently, the converse is also true. Therefore, I would avoid labels per se. We should examine the proposition on facts, promise, and if possible on performance before forming a view!

Open for responses!!!

Regards,
Samvedan

June 4, 2011

I agree with Varsha; I graduated from one of the top 10 B-Schools in the country with an MBA in March. During the course, I had to complete my studies through on-campus residency, but my organization has yet to acknowledge it.

Regards,
Deepak

Dear, situation reveals the correct mode of action. It is about how far you can tilt the balance to your side. No doubt, regular classes are far better than the correspondence style of study.

In my view, I suggest you go for the correspondence mode if you do not have ample time or other resources as required for regular classes. Education is a liberating force, and once acquired, a knowledge base can never go to waste. Sometimes it shows in your attitude. The main thing is you want to pursue your long-term cherished dream, and planning needs to be done for the goal to be achieved.

So do not waste any more time and get started. Companies look for hands-on experience that only comes from a combination of education taken and practical work knowledge gained. Best of luck.

Regards, Vibhu

"Do the best and wait for the next as the same opportunity never knocks twice on the door."

Try not just to read Mr. Samvedan's reply but try to understand it. He gave the perfect explanation, and it's not just about an MBA. Take any course, be it computers, academic, or whatever; his explanation is best suited. I have hands-on experience with many students I dealt with who are good at learning along with their jobs by applying their studies to their day-to-day work.

Regards,
Fatima

Alternative Qualifications for Strategic HR Management

You have yet another option of taking up qualifications from CIPD and SHRM. I feel they are more specialized and provide a strategic approach similar to an MBA. Again, it all depends on how experienced you are.

Regards

Hi Friends, I am working as a Finance Controller for one of the MNCs in KSA. I studied for an MBA through distance learning at SMU. I have noticed that some of my juniors, who have completed their MBA from a traditional B-School, struggle to work independently. This raises the question of whether an MBA from a B-School holds more value than one obtained through distance learning. In my opinion, individuals who are actively working can derive significant value from pursuing an MBA, even through distance education.

Regards, Vikraman

Vikraman has put it very right. In a single line: What or where you 'study' hardly matters; what and where you 'learn' finally matters. So Varsha, look for such opportunities where you can 'learn', the 'what' being already decided in your case—MBA.

Regards,
TS

Hi all, I, Dhrumin Soni, completed my MBA with an HR specialization. I want to ask you, is it good to do diploma courses from AIIMAS Chennai? Waiting for suggestions.

Thank you.

Understanding the Perception of Distance Learning in MBA Programs

First, I should thank you for the reply. I have a simple question for you. I have attended many interviews, and the first and foremost thing they ask is if you did it in correspondence or distance mode. People might be intelligent in all subject-related matters but completed it in distance mode, and they are not considered even if they present well in the interview. Why is that? People are not considering subject matter; rather, they are considering the mode in which they learned.

The Nature of Management Education

I am not going to term distance learning as good or bad per se. A blanket pronouncement in such matters is not necessary. Let us look at it this way. Management education is not something you acquire merely from books or reading material; it is not just through a "teacher-taught" relationship. It is more about "learning" than being "taught." If distance learning coexists with a strong, supportive work environment where good, competent, experienced professionals help you build bridges between theory and practice, I believe your learning can be faster, better, deeper, and more value-additive than otherwise. Even after a regular MBA, to learn reality, you will need a similar work and professional environment. Learning hands-on, simultaneously with internalizing the conceptual inputs, can be very enriching, but that will largely depend on the individual - their commitment, effort, enthusiasm, and willingness to go the extra mile. If that does not happen, anyone will fail.

Individual Capacity and Learning Environment

The long and short of the issue is the individual's capacity to internalize concepts, knowledge, and techniques. A regular MBA is a logical choice for those who are yet to complete formal academic education, but to expect an individual to leave employment for a full-time MBA may not be wise, right, or even economical. The development of faculties of a grown-up is different than that of a youngster. Perhaps he can comprehend reality in more of its dimensions than inexperienced youngsters. Distance learning could help him if he handles the flow of inputs capably.

Evaluating MBA Programs

A final word for the time being! You will come across rank inadequate regular MBA programs and some excellent distance learning programs. Evidently, the converse is also true. Therefore, I would avoid labels per se. We should examine the proposition on facts, promise, and if possible, on performance before forming a view. Open for responses!

Regards,
Samvedan
June 4, 2011

Please search other threads where the pros and cons of distance and full-time studies have been covered at CiteHR.

Hello Varsha, nashbramhall has given you some sound advice; try to follow it. However, as I keep seeing your dithering comments, I think FIRST & FOREMOST YOU NEED TO FIRST WASH OUT 100% OF YOUR BRAIN from the mental block about the query you raised. If you develop some amount of clear-headed clarity, I am sure you could have answered the questions you are being asked in the interviews you attended.

Look at it this way regarding your query: "People not considering Subject matter rather than they are considering which Mode they learned????????..." Maybe YOU were giving them an impression that your 'subject matter' knowledge was NOT SO GREAT or putting this in another way—maybe you DIDN'T give them confidence in your 'subject matter'? And all the while, you kept focusing on 'where' the MBA was done. Suggest focusing on "every aspect" of your interview performance & you will get the answer to your problem.

Regards,
TS

Since the question is raised on my post, I am happy to answer.

It is true that in the ultimate analysis, what counts is your competence, and neither the institute alone that you graduated from nor the mode of education or learning—whether "regular" or "distance"—will count beyond a point!

A regular course brings along with itself some assurance and credibility of the caliber of the student intake after screening that distance learning has not been able to achieve so far. What I omitted to emphasize in my earlier post is the fact that for a fresher, a "regular" course of instruction is more suitable as it is personally interactive, and the inputs are easier to digest since there are no preconceived notions about anything. However, for an experienced person, a "distance learning" course may work out beneficially as the student is already exposed to the world of work and concepts of management. How proper or mediocre it is, is a question aside, and on that, I would say, "to each his own"!

Subject to what I have stated so far, I had recounted a story from Mahabharata in an earlier similar post. I had reminded all that while "Arjun" became a great archer and warrior and learned other subjects under the best teachers appointed to teach the princes of the royal family, there was "Eklavya," the son of a tribesman with no access to great teachers, who became as great an archer, if not greater, than "Arjun" himself.

So it is possible, and it only proves a point that one does not NEED a great facilitator to advance in knowledge. However, it cannot be ignored that learning under good faculty in a good institute certainly helps!

Lastly, regarding your point that if your competence is not seen by the interviewers, it's tough for you, as in these matters there is no justice except natural justice and consequences. You may not get the coveted job, but the organization appointing interviewers who fail to see competence in potential candidates also pays a price by missing out on good and competent candidates. They may continue to lose out, but the competent will get coveted jobs sooner or later.

There are certain realities, like the ones you mentioned, that have to be accepted as beyond your capability to change in your own case.

I trust this response will leave no doubts, but if you have more questions, I will be happy to answer!

Regards,
Samvedan
June 6, 2011

Again, Mr. Samvedan has put it in proper words. Let me add something: if you are working abroad or planning to work abroad, then a distance or online MBA from any institution won't matter as long as you can deliver. Your capability to work is what matters; they set aside your certificates and see what you can deliver. You need a degree just to get a promotion or a particular job. However, the organizations you have previously worked for do matter.

In India, a regular MBA and the institution do matter. Trends are changing here as well, but not to a significant extent yet. So, decide wisely.