Jagpreet
03 November, 2022
Studies have shown that the employability rate for MBA students is 55.09% in the year 2022. Gone are the days when only a minor section of people used to opt for an MBA degree. That too just for the sake of getting a degree. Nowadays, students opt for this course because it is highly lucrative. Over the past few decades, the demand for an MBA degree has increased manifold, especially among working professionals. With the introduction of open and distance learning mode more and more students are taking advantage of it to study further. This helps them to explore more career options while also utilising their spare time.
On September 2, 2022, the UGC released a notification saying that Open and Distance Learning Courses are now at par with regular courses. The main objective of this move was to promote distance education and increase the literacy rate in the country. As per the notice:
Another regulation that you should look out for is the one released by UGC-DEB. According to the guidelines, no university is allowed to deliver technical courses such as BE and B.Tech in distance mode. Therefore, opting for courses like MBA, MCA and other humanities courses is more beneficial.
If you are considering choosing a course in ODL mode, first, do consider the accreditations of the universities. Second, compare what the university is deliversing and what India’s official statutory bodies have given permission to. Also, understand the gap between the two.
According to surveys, in the academic year 2019-20, 51.8% students took at least one distance course. Ever since, there has been an increase in the enrollment rate of distance courses. However, there is also a long-standing debate on whether one should opt for distance courses or regular courses. Let us weigh the pros and cons of each mode of education.
| Distance Education | |
| Pros | Cons |
| More Flexible | Lask of Individual Feedback |
| Work along with Learning | Too Much Study Material |
| No Age Bar | Less Physical Interaction with Peers |
| No Geographical Boundaries | Difficult to Prove the Credibility of the Courses |
| Low Cost | Preferred by Self-Motivated Students |
| Regular Courses | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Good Social Interaction | Expensive |
| Campus Placement Opportunities | Requires Time Devotion |
| Access to Labs and Other Resources | Not Feasible for Working Professionals |
| More Course Opportunities | Strict Schedule |
| Immediate Feedback | Age Restrictions |
Now that we have explored the pros and cons of each mode of learning, let us also take a look at the differences between distance learning and classroom education.
| Distance MBA | Regular MBA | |
| Who is it for | Working/ Experienced Professionals | Students |
| Duration | Minimum 2 Years | 2 Years Full Time Course |
| Fees Structure | Comparatively Less Fee | High Fee |
| Curriculum | It focuses on individual leadership development | It focuses on career development and organisational behaviour |
One of the common misconceptions about the Open and Distance Learning is that you do not get any career opportunities while pursuing the course. However, there are many universities, such as Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, that offer placement opportunities to the students enrolled in their distance MBA courses. NMIMS also extends access to Career Development Services and free Alumni Portal. This helps students to network with prominent recruiters, alumni of the university and industry experts. Therefore, it will not be wrong to say that distance MBA opens multiple avenues for the students. Not just that but it also helps in getting promotions, accepting managerial positions or switching jobs to better opportunities.
Regular MBA or traditional MBA is the most relied upon option for management education. Studies report that India has the second largest pool of MBA graduates. If the enrollment rate continues to grow at the same speed, then it is expected that India will be ranked at the top. It is beyond doubt that MBA is among the most sought-after courses in the country. It caters to soft skills & industry-oriented skills and deals with real-time project experience. Additionally, most universities in India offer internship opportunities, project work, capstone projects and much more for the students to gain industry experience. This helps the students to bridge the gap between corporate and college, thus making them job-ready.
Irrespective of the mode of education, an MBA degree is highly lucrative and a valuable addition into your CV. Both the distance and the regular degrees hold the same value. An MBA course focuses on the following aspects:
Whether it is a distance course or a regular course, both focus on these characteristics. You will get to develop on a personal as well as a professional level while pursuing the course. Therefore, you must go for the mode of education that suits your needs and your pocket. We have busted some distance education myths for you so that you can focus on what really matters while making your choice. If you don’t want to put your career on hold, then distance MBA is the way to go.
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