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Jagpreet
11 January, 2024
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“Sometimes during the two-year curriculum, every MBA student ought to hear it clearly stated that numbers, techniques, and analysis are all side matters. What is central to business is the joy of creating.” – Peter Robinson
So you are thinking about an MBA, but the traditional classroom setting just does not fit your busy life. As per Fortune, Online MBA courses are becoming increasingly popular because they cost less, let you study flexibly, and allow you to work while learning. Even before the pandemic, these courses were already getting more common. In the years 2016–17 to 2020–21, the number of U.S. schools offering fully-online MBAs went up by 85%, from 284 to 526. This increase shows that more people are choosing the convenience of online learning for their business education.
There are so many options available out there, how will you ensure that you are choosing a quality programme that will actually boost your career? Well, this article will provide insights into the perceived gap and explore strategies to bridge it, ensuring Online MBAs deliver a robust and valuable education.
I will make it simple for you. Imagine a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, but instead of visiting a busy campus, you learn from the comfort of your sofa or local coffee shop. That’s an Online MBA! It is a postgraduate business qualification delivered mostly, if not entirely, over the internet.
You will learn the same top-notch business stuff as a traditional MBA. You will have the option to choose subjects like finance, marketing, accounting, and management. All spiced up with electives that match your interests, like entrepreneurship or data analysis.
Most Online MBAs use a learning platform like a virtual classroom. You will attend lectures online and complete assignments. You will have the option to have chit-chat with classmates and professors through forums and video calls. Some programmes might have occasional in-person sessions, but it is mostly flexible, learning on your own terms.
Now let’s talk about making Online MBAs better for everyone! There are several gaps right now that make students feel like Online MBAs are not quite where they should be. We can figure out what is making things tricky and we can fix it with clever solutions. Let’s explore the perceived gaps and explore strategies to bridge them.
Faculty Engagement: When you are attending virtual classes, you might have concerns about the level of interaction and engagement between faculty and students in an online setting. The perceived lack of face-to-face interaction might lead to diminished quality of learning and mentorship. It makes the classes non-interactive and boring.
Networking Opportunities: If you compare an Online MBA with a traditional one, you will find out that Traditional MBAs boast strong on-campus communities and alumni networks that are valuable professional connections. You will feel that the online format might seem to hinder these crucial interactions that raise a concern about career advancement opportunities.
Experiential Learning: When we visit campus for studies, we learn through real-world application and teamwork. Some believe that online programmes lack the practical context and collaborative experiences that are offered by traditional MBAs.
Now that we are aware of some of the main bottlenecks that hinder the overall learning experience of students, let us check out some of the ways in which we can counter these challenges.
Interactive Technologies: As a suggestion, colleges and students can tackle these issues with online platforms that offer a plethora of tools to bridge the physical distance. Here are some suggestions that might make the learning more interesting:
| Video conferencing | Group projects |
| Collaborative learning platforms | Faculty-student interaction |
| Virtual breakout rooms for active discussions | Building virtual communities |
Creating a sense of community is important for online learning. We can utilise the forums, discussion boards, and social media groups that can create vibrant online spaces for peer-to-peer learning.
Industry Collaborations: Partnerships with companies and organisations can provide Online MBA students with valuable internship and case study opportunities. This will help them to get exposure to real-world business challenges and build practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge.
Enhanced Assessments: You will agree that traditional exams might not fully capture the learning outcomes of online programmes. Colleges can implement some changes like diverse assessment methods that involves:
| Group presentations | Portfolio development |
| Simulations |
These activities can provide a more holistic evaluation of student understanding and application of concepts.
Dedicated Support Services: Online programmes need to prioritise student support through readily available academic advisors, career counsellors and technical assistance. This will ensure that students are receiving the guidance and resources they need to navigate the online learning environment.
By willingly adopting these changes like innovative technologies, fostering engaged communities, and incorporating interactive and practical learning elements, Online MBA programmes can bridge the perceived gap and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their traditional counterparts.
As educators and institutions continue to refine online delivery methods, Online MBAs have the potential to offer an even more flexible, accessible, and enriching educational experience for aspiring business leaders.
| Sl# | College/ University | NIRF Rank | Fee (INR) |
| 1 | Amity University | 28 | 45,000 – 63,250 per semester |
| 2 | IIM Kashipur | 19 | 5,40,000 – 12,00,000 full course |
| 3 | ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education | 40 | 45,000 per semester |
| 4 | DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune | 46 | 1,40,200 full course |
| 5 | Bharathidasan University | 41 | 91,000 (full course) |
| 6 | Manipal University | 6 | 1,66,000 – 6,00,000 full course |
| 7 | Jain University | 68 | 60,000 per semester |
| 8 | Chandigarh University | 27 | 37,500 per semester |
| 9 | UPES CCE | 52 | 37,500 – 49,750 per semester |
| 10 | Lovely Professional University | 32 | 44,000 per semester |
Learn More: Top 10 Online MBA Colleges in India- UPDATED!
The Online MBA landscape is evolving rapidly, and concerns about quality are constantly being addressed. By actively implementing strategies to enhance engagement, collaboration, and practical learning, online programmes can not only bridge the perceived gap but also pave the way for a future where quality education transcends physical boundaries, empowering individuals to achieve their professional goals through the convenience and flexibility of online learning.
