Is a Part-Time or Distance Learning MBA Worth It When Top Companies Prefer Full-Time Degrees?

A few years back when I was working for a consultancy, I was asked to recruit marketing professionals for top companies. They asked me to ignore CVs of candidates who have done part-time MBA or MBA through distance learning.

Reasons for Choosing Part-Time or Distance Learning MBA

A candidate may opt for part-time MBA or distance learning for the following reasons:
- If they are the sole earner in the family.
- If they cannot leave their current job due to unavoidable circumstances.

There could be many genuine reasons for choosing these modes of study.

Value of Part-Time or Distance Learning MBA

If top companies are specifically seeking candidates with full-time MBA qualifications, then what is the value of pursuing a part-time MBA or MBA through distance education? These individuals may possess the necessary experience, but simply because they have not completed a full-time MBA, they may miss out on opportunities to work in prestigious companies.

Significance of Offering Part-Time or Distance Learning Programs

If this is the scenario, then why do management institutes offer such programs if they hold no significance in the job market?

Even today, recruiters ask candidates questions like: "You have done an MBA, is it part-time or full-time?" I mean, why should it matter? You should check their experience, stability, knowledge, communication skills, etc.

Supply and Demand in MBA Hiring

It's all a matter of supply and demand. If there are not enough candidates with a full-time MBA, then the organization will consider candidates with an MBA completed through other modes. This issue has been discussed on CiteHr before. Please search and read the discussions. I found one at https://www.citehr.com/189943-why-to...ance-mode.html

Subjectivity in Rejecting Part-Time MBAs

The management that rejects MBAs on the grounds of part-time study is not objective in their decision; they are subjective. Performance should be the yardstick for employment, not whether your degree is from a part-time or full-time university.

The Value of Regular vs. Distance Education Degrees

To secure a job nowadays, a candidate is required to possess good communication skills in the English language, followed by a first-class degree, i.e., above 60 percent, and pass all the papers on the first attempt, etc., for those who pursue a course in regular education and not in distance mode. Candidates who secured a postgraduate/graduate degree through distance education are not preferred in corporate settings. It is believed that only regular, i.e., in a college/campus of a university or a business school, degrees are considered valuable. Placement consultants are very particular about placing regular course students. Why is this so? Nobody gives a valid answer. It is believed that regular education is the only way to provide ample scope for learning, practicing the learning, understanding the practical aspects, etc. That's why distance education is considered unwanted. HR Managers are also reluctant to select candidates from a distance education background.

Challenges Faced by Distance Education Candidates

Step-motherly treatment is being meted out to distance education degrees and candidates. However, for employed/experienced individuals, distance education degrees/qualifications offer good knowledge of the trade and subjects. The only plus point from distance education.

Distance education candidates who pursue the course are usually sufficiently aged and experienced, and Distance Education Universities do not give much time-bound prominence to the courses. Printed notes/study materials are dispatched to the candidates by the University CDE Departments. If the candidates send emails to the directorate for any clarifications, the message bounces immediately. The so-called study centers appointed by a university for educational assistance to the candidates/students are primarily focused on collecting money on time and offer little else.

The Role of UGC/CDE and Corporate Wisdom

It is the primary function of the UGC/CDE to create value for the courses and the candidates in achieving their life goals. Corporates should gain wisdom in this matter and give weightage to distance education graduates too. Only then can confidence be instilled in paying attention to CDE.

Knowledge and quality must be given importance and not anything else.

You are right about the poor support given to distance education students in India. Please see https://www.citehr.com/464168-concen...ml#post2068064.

It's not the case with all distance learning courses. I think it's a problem with private institutions that are after the money rather than the service. As I mentioned in my earlier post, it's a question of supply and demand: if there are more candidates to choose from than the number of vacancies, then why will companies bother about students from such institutions? Students from IIMs, etc., will have formed a personal network through which they will find jobs.

One important thing to remember in this context is that "a private organization, which is to recruit people for any job, is free to make their own rules and processes." How can anyone debate that ignoring applicants with an MBA through distance education is not justified? If I were the CEO, I would decide the criteria to shortlist applicants if there is a good response to our job advertisement.

As clearly pointed out above by the Super Moderator, Nashbramhall, it is all a question of "demand and supply." So, the market forces determine the shortlisting criteria for recruitment. Take, for example, admissions to Delhi University degree-level courses this year. Only this morning, we heard the news that the cutoff for admissions to reputed colleges is above 99% marks in 10+2. Can someone with 90% argue that he/she should also be given a chance? When the market offers enough candidates with a score of 99% and above, why should the top colleges look for others? In a similar manner, if the market provides enough applicants with a full-time MBA degree from premier institutes, why should an employer shortlist candidates from other management training institutes or those candidates who have earned an MBA through part-time/distance education?

I know it is painful for the affected candidates, but no organization can afford to conduct interviews of all the applicants to determine the best fit for a job. That is why defining shortlisting criteria is a standard practice and is an essential part of the recruitment process.

The Value of Distance and Part-Time MBA Programs

In most cases, MBA candidates from distance courses are perceived as inadequate. They are often not considered suitable even for a clerk's job. An MBA is a course that goes beyond passing 16 papers; it's about presentation, knowledge application, and improved analytical skills. Distance learning courses do not typically provide these skills.

Challenges of Part-Time MBA Programs

Part-time courses have very limited teaching time, making it difficult to complete the required subject courses. Furthermore, individuals who are already employed do not have the time to engage in the extra work that MBAs often entail. Consequently, the end product tends to be of lower quality.

When there are enough qualified MBAs available, why would someone choose to hire a part-timer?

The Cost and Commitment of Full-Time MBA Programs

Even people who enroll in full-time MBA programs spend more than 3 lakhs over two years in almost all institutions. I have observed that students are either not regular in attendance or have only 2 hours of class before heading back home. Sometimes, even the lecturers don't invest much in teaching because they feel bored teaching a limited number of candidates. It's simply a waste of money.

I agree that this has definitely been the scenario nowadays. However, I would say that the best option for pursuing a part-time or Executive MBA is to do it while working. This way, you can achieve a higher position within your job profile by completing these higher education courses.

I strongly object to the views expressed by Mr. Saswata Banerjee. He has no idea about the course content of IGNOU, from which I earned my MBA. IGNOU was accredited as a University of Excellence by the Commonwealth group of nations (more than 40 countries). It has an excellent curriculum and offers weekend counseling sessions. It took me four years to complete the course in eight semesters. For four years (1988-1992), I regularly attended counseling sessions on Saturdays and Sundays. Thereafter, I appeared in selection tests where external MBAs from reputed business schools appeared and were ranked far below me.

Quality of Education at IGNOU

It is not the institute or the mode of imparting education that matters but how interested the student is. At IGNOU, regular assignments, case studies, and lectures from experienced business managers ensured the quality of education. However, if the aim of a student is to get a degree (whether they gain knowledge or not), then God bless them! Unfortunately, today's environment reinforces this attitude.

Regards

As expressed earlier, it all depends on where one obtains the MBA and the duration of the course. IGNOU's courses are an exception, much like the Open University, UK courses. However, there are numerous other universities where minimal support is provided to students in distance learning.

Dear Meena,

Learning while working is difficult but not impossible. We all have only 24 hours a day. How we utilize that time available is the question. I know of people who have done part-time evening courses for years, with a young family to look after, and completed their Master's degree and/or Teacher's Training, and even taught part-time evening classes at the same time. When I used to conduct Time Management Courses, I would ask people to consider how much time they spend watching TV, chatting with friends on Skype, or talking on the phone.

An old saying goes, "Where there is a will, there is a way." So, do not lose heart. Please take a leaf from this 100-year-old lady's story in the news on Yahoo! News UK & Ireland - Latest World News & UK News Headlines: [URL=http://uk.news.yahoo.com/grandmother-graduates-primary-school-age-100-032411321.html?vp=1#Un85LoP]

Regards,

I recruit regularly, both for my own company and for the needs of our clients. The views I expressed are based on what I am experiencing. The only one I have seen that has some sensible results is Welingkar in Mumbai. Even that is a product far inferior to what we see in their full-time MBA courses. A full-time MBA course run by most reputed institutes in Mumbai requires students to be in the institute for as long as 12 hours a day. The amount of project work they do is humongous. A part-timer does not have time to do anything close to that, and it badly affects the final product.

I have also seen and worked with IGNOU candidates. No, they do not come up to standards. You may have been an exception and would have been able to take benefit of what they could offer. I suspect you had experience and expertise you leveraged on. I sincerely hope you are able to reap the benefits of your degree and get an opportunity to showcase it. But mostly, that does not work.

Please may I know how many distance learning MBA candidates you have come across in the past year? Is it not possible that better students with considerable experience, who have completed distance learning courses, are absorbed by their own organizations and do not bother applying for other jobs?

The Quality of MBA Education in India

Most of the fresh MBAs (even full-time MBAs) in a number of institutions in India are taught by fresh MBAs who have hardly set foot in any organization. I know this from personal encounters when conducting seminars. I have asked HR lecturers if they have worked in HR, etc., and the response I received was "No." So, in my humble opinion, it all depends on how much interest a student takes in the course, why the student is pursuing the course (due to parents' and peer pressure or self-motivation), how much time they devote, whether they work to learn or just to pass an examination.

Student Engagement at CiteHr

At CiteHr, I have been in touch with students of all sorts: many prefer spoon-feeding, and a minority ask for guidance to ensure they are on the right track. I am sure there are thousands who do not seek help. Students from elite institutions are a different breed, in general.

Regards

The Reality of Part-Time and Distance MBA Programs

About 15 in the last 2 years. Plus, I have met/know a lot of those who did an MBA from full-time and part-time courses. Most of the students doing part-time are not doing it to learn. Most are also not doing it to advance in the same organization as they know they will continue to be in the same position after their degree. They are doing it to be able to jump into another company for a higher salary that an MBA generally gets. And mostly, they are badly disappointed as companies do not offer an equal chance to those graduating from a distance MBA course. Most HR teams will look at this in the same light as a note on the CV stating that he played cricket for his college team. Good to hear, but it does not change my decision.

The reason why this is so, I have already explained earlier. The absence of serious and equivalent efforts on project work, presentations, research, analysis, personality development, etc., is largely missing in part-time courses. There is just no time. And recruiters know this. They already factor this in. Do they care (as the original post put it) that the candidate had to take this course as he did not have an option, could not leave the job, etc.? No, they do not care. For them, it's your hard luck. Don't try to push that on me. I will hire from the pool that looks like will pass the muster.

Again, like I said, such candidates do get jobs, but because they have experience. The MBA degree is just icing on the cake. In a few cases, I know, it has helped to break a glass ceiling (e.g., a rule if not promoting a manager who is not an MBA to department head). That is what drives some of the candidates to do it.

The Importance of Communication Skills in Management

I have seen many candidates from reputed business schools performing poorly in group discussions and tasks. They either fumble or remain silent! It makes me wonder, where are the skills and knowledge they are supposed to have mastered in those schools? Mind it, management is not only about the theory learned in the institute but also its application in the real practical world, where communication skills are of utmost importance.

Regards,

These are based on my own experience in recruiting for my company, for clients, and in sitting through interviews that my clients took that they ask me to attend. It starts with the perception that part-time MBAs are non-serious, or that the course is not serious in teaching/not enough projects and exposure.

So, at the time of screening, HR/recruitment consultants will simply ignore part-timers unless they can't find one they want, or if the budget is low.

During the interview (if you are lucky to be called), the interviewer is generally hostile already. In addition, they will ask questions that are more difficult, either because they are told you must be experienced and able to answer, or that they subconsciously don't want you.

If finally selected, they will offer you a lower salary in light of the thought that you did a part-time MBA and therefore are inferior.

What Cuts a Different Path from This:

A. You must be from a premier institute (e.g., Welingkar in Mumbai, Jamnalal Bajaj).

B. You must have experience and expertise they know you have and they want (where the degree is only icing on the cake).

Ask any recruiter how many part-timers they have shortlisted, and you will get the source of my comment.

The Value of MBA Through Distance Education

MBA through distance education or correspondence does have value for those who are already working and putting in effort to improve their qualifications. The industry recognizes it as a "self-development initiative" since, in many cases, theoretical knowledge can be directly applied in the workplace. This means learning and application happen simultaneously, which reflects positively on the employee.

However, looking at the availability versus demand scenario for MBA freshers in various industries and government organizations across the country, it is evident that even regular MBAs are struggling to find sufficient employment opportunities. This trend is unlikely to change in the near future. For instance, if a job posting is made for an HR Executive position today, there will be hundreds of applicants who hold not only MBAs but also qualifications such as B.Tech, MCA, MA, and more. The proliferation of institutions offering MBA/PGDBA qualifications in the country is contributing to the pool of unemployed educated youth who are genuinely frustrated, thereby posing a challenge to society. It is imperative for someone at the Human Resources planning level to take proactive steps and provide the right direction.

The Misconception of MBA Equivalence

There are some individuals who don't know anything about HR or lack practical knowledge in HR, even if they have obtained their MBA abroad. Obtaining an MBA from abroad doesn't make much difference.

The Reality of Short-Term Management Courses

Currently, there are numerous institutions offering short-term management courses, claiming equivalence to an MBA to attract students. However, this is not accurate. To earn an MBA, one must undergo a minimum of 3 years of study with 24 papers in examinations. Nowadays, even courses lasting 6 months to 1 year are being labeled as equivalent to an MBA to entice below-average students seeking an MBA. However, these individuals lack theoretical and practical knowledge. They cannot write a single line in proper English without grammatical errors.

The Situation Abroad

Similarly, abroad, many institutions offer MBAs in a similar manner, with little difference other than practical analysis, handling situations, case studies, etc., which come through experience.

Kind regards

Distance MBAs are basically assignment-oriented and the limited contact classes are inadequate to impart real knowledge. The essence of an MBA is direct interaction with faculty and industry people. When the supply of direct MBAs is higher, distance students get left behind in the race.

If we see that there are so many MBA graduates from schools and fewer placements available, it may be because full-time MBA is given so much importance as a reason to shortlist the number of candidates. What I see is simple: due to the overpopulated, hard-working Indians, if there are 200 jobs, there are 200,000 applicants. Just like in Delhi University, the cut-off is 95% and above. Why? Because they have many applicants. It's simple; they have a reason to shortlist.

Preference for Full-Time MBAs Over Distance Learning

The fact is that a preference exists for full-time MBAs vis-a-vis distance learning ones in the industry. We may feel it is unfair or even wrong, but that doesn't change the fact.

Also, just by the nature of it being part-time, distance learning candidates miss out on certain crucial elements integral to the MBA learning experience. Peer-to-peer learning, presentations, group work, etc., are things that are missing or much less intensive in a distance MBA. Not commenting on the intellectual prowess of the students or course design of distance MBAs, certain structural factors seem to limit learning in a distance MBA course.

True, for some, a distance MBA is the only option. True, they may start out with a slight disadvantage in the job market. But all that means is they need to put in that much extra effort to compensate for their initial disadvantage.

Experience in Management

I have 10 years of experience in Client Management, Quality Management, and Operation Management. The best part is that I am a Science graduate. Although I'm pursuing an MBA, I can bet that I can outperform IIM students when it comes to the management part. A mechanic without experience but certified and a mechanic with experience and a local degree are preferential candidates.

Perceptions of Distance Learning MBAs

Saswat, your experience in hiring is influenced by your thoughts that you've invested significantly in a traditional MBA and face tough competition from another person who has completed an MBA via Distance Learning. Please provide me with your company name or suggest a company that disregards candidates who have earned an MBA through Distance Learning.

Value of Traditional vs. Distance MBAs

Individuals who have graduated with a traditional MBA from highly reputable institutes either work as teachers or have established their own training institutes. Completing an MBA from a traditional institute definitely provides an edge over a Distance MBA. However, individuals working in top industries and pursuing a Distance MBA are highly valued compared to those with a Regular MBA.