Online MBA: Climb Up The Career Ladder With Confidence

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Can you earn an MBA degree without leaving your job? Yes. As online education becomes increasingly popular, numerous students from around the world are now pursuing business education degrees online. This has perhaps proved to be a boon for many adult students who need to balance their jobs, family and education at the same time. But are online distance learning programmes worth it? Let’s find out...

Why Study Online MBA?

Anthony Yu, who is pursuing online MBA from Sandermoen School of Business (University of Fredericton), found this mode of learning especially helpful when his wife was about to give birth to their third child. 40 year old Yu, who works as a bank branch manager, says “I always joked with my wife, ‘I might be bringing my computer with me into the hospital room’’.

It has now become a growing trend for most reputed B-schools to offer some kind of business degree online. Apart from a number of online schools, many top-rated, reputed and elite institutes like Queen’s School of Business and Harvard Business School are also providing online programmes to their students.

This can provide the perfect solution for individuals like Mr. Yu who wish to advance their careers by pursuing a higher education degree, without leaving their jobs or barely managing time for their families. Yu says “This (was) a better route for me, for my family, and for work-life balance. You still need to participate in your (live online) lectures and readings once a week (but), really, this was the route for me because of the flexibility it gave.”

Work Full Time, Study Any Time

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 Peter Mersereau, Director of Operations at University of Fredericton, says “The main thing that sets us apart is how our programs are designed. They are created for working professionals; thus, students can study from anywhere in the world, at any time, completely online. The program provides students the opportunity to continue their education without sacrificing career momentum.”

This seems to be the aim of most universities that offer distance learning opportunities via the internet.

Athabasca University also offers a world class online MBA programme that aims to help professionals boost their careers in the direction they want. Dr. Alain May, MBA Programme Director at the university, believes that now is the perfect time to go for online studies. She says “When I first started going to conferences five years ago, once they found out you were from an online school, they would turn around and not talk to you, because they didn’t think you had a lot to tell them. When I’m at those same conferences now and you say you’re online, suddenly you’re the most popular person in the room.”

Fast Track To An MBA

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Dr. May believes that online MBAs offer enhanced accessibility and flexibility, which the traditional universities could even dream of providing. Students who wish to do a full time job and study can easily cater to their professional commitments and pursue an MBA programme online. By pursuing a distance learning top up programme from an accredited online B-school, students can easily manage to study their coursework over the internet from the comfort of their homes as per their convenience. 

Moreover, learners can also study during lunch time at work or during leisure hours. This gives professionals the freedom to study at their own pace. One of the greatest advantages of an online top up MBA is that it allows students to fast track to an accredited MBA degree without investing excessive time or money.

A Collaborative Experience

In fact online learning is often more collaborative than students might think. She says “I think there’s an impression of online education that it’s a person sitting in a room all by themselves, working on their own. The reality is, we are very effective in networking the students so they can collaborate and build. Students work closely together and learn from each other constantly.”

As technology progresses further at an unbelievable pace, numerous universities and colleges are gearing up to improve their online offerings to reach more students worldwide. Dr. May adds “As technologies move, we’re trying to move, as well. We’re moving toward providing mobile applications for students. We try to innovate all the time.”

Mersereau of University of Fredericton says “It’s how work gets done today.” He continues “If someone sees an online MBA as second-rate, they are not prepared to do business in the 21st century. We live in a virtual world today, so I see no reason why someone would need to stop their career momentum to attend a physical location.”

Changing Employers’ Perspectives

Moreover, now recruiters and employers are also recognizing and accepting online degrees more than ever before. A new report from the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration shows that nearly 50 per cent of the surveyed employers believe the format of a degree is not a major factor in the recruitment or promotion of a candidate. The only thing that matters is whether the programme and the degree are correctly accredited or not.

Paresh Mistry, vice-president of the recruiting agency David Aplin Group, says employers are no more concerned about whether candidates earn MBAs online or on-campus. He adds “The working professionals aren’t readily willing to give up a full-time job for school purposes. In all the years I’ve been doing this, I can never recall a client turning down a candidate because of the circumstances surrounding their MBA. I don’t think that’s going to become an issue.”

Climb The Ladder With Online MBA

Online business degrees have enabled professionals like Anthony Yu to pursue their dream careers by getting further education. By studying for a distance learning top up degree in business, many young professionals can acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to climb up the career ladder and boost their careers to great new heights.

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 Mistry concluded “It’s going to make this easier for a lot of students. If technology didn’t evolve to where we’re at today, I’ll tell you right now I wouldn’t have completed my MBA,” he says. “It would not have been possible.”

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Staff Mobility For Bringing Excellence in Higher Education

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Staff mobility is a teaching experience for faculty in various universities. Under such programs, teachers generally spend a few weeks at an institution for higher education in another country that is also a part of this teaching program.

Why is there focus on staff mobility in universities?

This is done so that institutions can broaden the span of the lectures and enrich the content of the lessons that are being offered to the students. The students, who cannot visit different universities, can listen to the lectures of teachers from various universities.

What Are The Benefits Derived From Staff Mobility?

The students get an opportunity to acquire the skills that are necessary when they join a firm later on in life. Students and teachers can work in multinational groups during this time. They gain new perspectives on various current issues that are taking place in the world today.

Usually these events are better known as workshops or conferences, which are taking place in the major countries in Europe as well as in other countries around the world.

Staff mobility is needed so that learning becomes more internationalized, research oriented and interactive. There are still some universities that are yet to understand the value of these programs and encourage active participation in these events. The process has begun very recently but there are still miles to go before everyone realizes the importance of staff mobility.

How Can Institutions Point Out Its Relevance And Importance Today In The World?

If the importance of staff mobility is not restricted to teachers and students alone, it would become more popular. It requires a strategic direction both nationally and internationally. Data collection is essential and case studies should be encouraged. Joint degrees and exchanges through the cooperative partnership of universities should be favored.

Language training and and developmental projects can be conducted by universities and these joint ventures can help strengthen the unity among various schools of thought.

Many universities are ensuring that mobility is not restricted to only the teachers. All kinds of staff are being sent from one university to another for the sake of cultural exchange and to cross barriers such as language, behavior, perspective and other minor differences.

Many institutions are now taking a step to make sure that people can have access to archives and reports so that policies may be made and researches may be conducted in future based on the observations.

The future of higher education is indeed bright but with careful planning and determination on the part of the students and teachers we can share information and encourage other sister universities to join hands for a proper cultural exchange and development in future.

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The Kind Of Degree We Earn Matters

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Walt Disney once stated that all our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them. This statement is indeed true in the case of everything we try to accomplish in life. We have a dream, a goal, an ambition and we work hard to make it come true. Education is one of the most important aspects of our life that we can’t ignore or forget. With the help of education we can make ourselves face problems and find success. We also look for quality in education. We prefer a good institution, a good course and everything that will ensure that students have a bright future.

There are millions of people all over the world who are struggling every day to educate themselves in order to fulfill their dreams. Look at the lives of people around you.

Problems That You Might Be Facing Like Many Around You

You might spot an employed mother struggling to balance her entry-level job with her responsibilities at home since she is married and has two children who need her constant attention. She wants a promotion at work so that she can educate her children and give them the best opportunities in life too. She needs a job of a junior executive and for that to happen she needs to go to school. But that would mean that she would have to leave her job, or settle somewhere away from her family overseas. Also this option is very expensive since she has to take care of her children’s needs. She can’t attend regular classes at a college. Is there no hope for people like her to move forward in life?

And Here Comes The Easy Solution 

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One of the easiest options that are available today is distance education. One doesn’t need to wait and leave a job or quit anything else in life. People can get the majority of the work done at home and can visit the campus on rare occasions such as during exams.

Hi-Tech Education- A Short-Cut To Success

Now, with the advent of technology, people can choose to learn and appear for exams online. It is flexible and affordable since anyone can learn from home and can cut down on expenses that often are incurred on transportation and tuition at the college campus.

Students who need a less expensive option to earn a degree can get a diploma through an online course. There might be many people who have just graduated from high school and they don’t want to study for four years at college.

 The Online Management Diploma Is Pacing Forward

Today's generation, that is entering the world of business education, is keen to embrace the opportunities that are provided by the implementation of technologies. Consequently, a modern age business student has the access of a flexible, innovative and job-oriented management diploma online study program, thanks to the radically evolved online learning.

To Fast Track Students' Achievements

The online undergraduate business program not only provides students with an enhanced learning experience, which extends beyond academics, but it also furnishes them with strategic & leadership expertise.

• Learners will explore the bonding with people within the sector after going through level 5 diploma course in business, the modules of which concentrate on key elements within business and management to fast track students to the final year of an associated Undergraduate BA degree.

• Online courses also equip the future business professionals with the skills to make right decision at the right time and proceed with it in the right way.

• Turning a problem into an advantage with creativity is another key skill that is explored through management diploma online program.

Now, pursuing Level 5 diploma will be a cheaper option for students but they will be acquainted with the skills that will help them become entrepreneurs soon after. They can make business plans, know about the various business laws, can make plans in marketing and sales and will also develop interpersonal skills and leadership skills.

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The Expansion That Students Need

Level 5 diploma through online mode can help anyone who is interested to learn at his own pace since it is very flexible. It helps students learn how to face challenges and they can share information online with others all over the world.

The students have the option of going to approved centers where they can take lessons in a class. They can choose not to go anywhere and contact teachers online or over the phone and get personal doubts clarified on a one-to-one basis.

They can also choose to attend blended classrooms where they might have to attend classes on campus and online as well. It helps build a strong network with other students so that common errors can be eliminated and new ideas can be incorporated by the online learners.

The bottom-line is that we all seek quality in whatever we purchase. Education should equip us with the knowledge that is needed to ensure excellence in performance once one is employed. It motivates a student to go to the finish line successfully. If there is anything lacking, there will be some negative effect on the learner. Knowledge should be free and accessible by all who seek it.

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MOOCs: Are These Free Online Courses Worth It?

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In the past few years MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses) have become one of the most popular trends in education and corporate training. Numerous students from across the globe are now pursuing MOOCs offered by various colleges and universities. For the uninitiated, MOOCs free online courses which can be pursued by large number of learners. Most of these courses are free and are offered by reputed universities and institutions worldwide.

There is no doubt that these educational courses have acted as a boon for learners who are interested to gain knowledge in a particular topic. But you need to be cautious about some challenges that you will encounter while studying a massive online open course. Here we will dissect some of the highs and lows of pursuing MOOCs. Read on....

Benefits That Can Change Your Life  

Wide Range Of World-Class Courses

You can find an array of high quality education courses via MOOCs that are offered by recognized and reputed colleges, universities and institutions. You can choose to learn about different topics like yoga, neuroscience, entrepreneurship, computer coding or anything you are interested in. With MOOCs there are no limitations.

Free Of Charge

Most of the courses offered through MOOCs are entirely free as the key objective of these courses is to make education available and accessible widely. Considering the rising cost of college education and corporate training, MOOCs are certainly an advantage for individuals as well as businesses.

Flexibility

MOOCs are designed to be highly flexible. If you wish to attend college or corporate training, it is imperative that you take time off from your current employment. But with these online courses, you can study at any time you want and fit your studies around your daily routine. As you can access the course material on the internet, you can study as per your convenience and stay committed to your day job.

No Specific Requirements

You do not need to possess any specific qualifications to pursue a Massive Online Open Course. As these courses do not have a limit on the volume of applicants, the process is not selective. You can get started easily just by providing some general details.

And Here Comes The Challenges

Lack Of Accreditation

One of the biggest drawbacks of MOOCs is that most of the courses are not accredited. As a result, these are usually not considered valuable by employers. Although adding an online course qualification on your resume will not damage your reputation, but it will not have the same effect on your employers as an accredited qualifications.

Not At Par With Traditional Courses

Generally the online courses are simplified versions of college programs and often are not at par with traditional courses. As MOOCs aim to make learning more accessible by reaching a wide group of students, these tend to be very basic.

Student Retention Issues

Another major downside of MOOCs that has gained considerable attention is substantial inclination to abandon the course. The flexibility of MOOCs, which can be a great advantage for many, offers learners the freedom to such degrees that their professional and personal commitments take more priority than studies.

Lack Of Teacher Interaction

As thousands of learners enrol for MOOCs, it becomes impractical for the educators to track progress of every student and offer them the support they would require. Although MOOCs offer online forums for student support, but the queries and posts on these forums are usually answered by fellow learners. Moreover grading is also done either by peers or automatically.

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What Should You Do?

Now the question that comes to mind is “Are MOOCs useful for your career”? Well, the answer depends on what you expect to gain from these courses. If you wish to enrich your knowledge and understanding by pursuing an affordable and accessible course that offers quality education, then MOOCs are for you.

However, if you are looking for a substitute for college education, then you might need to think again. These courses can certainly be helpful for your career development, provided you invest adequate time and effort and steer your own progress.

What do you think about MOOCs? Who do you think a MOOC can help your career goals? Let us know your opinions and thoughts by commenting below. We would love to hear from you.

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Social Media – A New Era Evolves In Education

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The new generation of students has grown up knowing that they need to pack their tabs in their bags and keep the pen drive in their pocket. They can tell time and can be reminded about their next class when their teacher sends a notification on their smart watches.

Experiments in laboratories have become interesting and fun exercises for both teachers and students since they get to make observations from very close quarters with the help of Google glasses. Explanations are so much easier to follow on smart boards.

Social Media Barges In...And Transforms Learning

Just a few years ago, people were introduced to the world of social media for fun and entertainment. People used these tools to share pictures and stories about private moments that were shared with friends and loved ones. But gradually they have been molded to give a new shape- that of a medium of instruction in schools, colleges and universities. Some social media tools have become very popular very recently.

Social Media Tools Favored by the World

• Some of the great social tools that are used in schools are Edmodo, in which the teachers and students in class can connect online.

• Grockit is the tool that helps students find study-buddies and they learn in groups. Skype can help students and teachers interact with each other from anywhere in the world.

• Quora is favored by teachers since they can find topics for class discussions and debates. This is available worldwide.

• The tool named ePals can assist students who are learning new languages and about countries and cultures that are different from theirs.

• Google Earth is popular for students who are learning about geography.

• Very recently, blogging has become popular among students and teachers. According to Dan Roddy, an eLearning Designer from UK, blogging is the best way to consolidate personal learning. Many authors can connect and learn about the latest information on a very informal platform.

• Kora Stoll, a fifth grade teacher in Miami Florida favors Podcasting since students can hear, edit and publish mp3s in an innovative manner.

• Jeroen Bottema, the teacher trainer for the School of Education Amsterdam pointed out how Twitter proved to be an important and useful tool when there was a need to have conferences and while having discussions.

The Extent to Which Social Media is Being Used by Students and Teachers

Social Media is also used by teachers and students at the level of higher education. Social media is personally used by 70.3% of the faculty. 55 % use it professionally outside the classroom and 41% use it inside the class. This no longer remains restricted to high school alone. It has been widely accepted by colleges and universities as well.

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Social Media & Digital Education–The Juxtaposition

Since 2000, when Friendster and MySpace were introduced as the quintessential domains for youngsters, social media has gone mainstream. The vast range of social media tools such as blogging, Tweeting, and Google+ hangouts also allow online students to both create and curate content, to collaborate with other students & teachers, and to build their own learning networks as well.

• Group works and assignments are the genres of Online education where Wikis and other collaborative document tools can be used.

• Personal and class blogs are reckoned to be important to submit writing assignments and reflections.

• Online students can make their presentations using Youtube, podcasting, or mind-mapping software and post these presentations online for others to evaluate.

The Academic Revolution

With the advent of social media, it has become a tool that is used by teachers in colleges and universities and the respective students for open discussion, explanation and the medium of expression both verbally and in a written form. Students feel free to submit original work without the fear of plagiarism.

 

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The future of education is indeed very promising since it is evolving and transforming itself in the most positive direction and people too are being shaped and molded based on the knowledge that they are gaining. It is indeed great to see how we have been able to transcend barriers such as countries, cultures, languages, expressions, values and other minor differences to become an integrated global community with a common goal... to strive towards perfection by gaining knowledge that is free for all.

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How Apprenticeship Can Influence Your Career Growth

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Our world is dynamic. New discoveries are being made every minute and inventions are making our careers lively and innovative. If any student is interested in being an apprentice, it is a very good choice since an apprenticeship is an actual job that trains a student with all the necessary skills for the specific job.

When Do Students Choose Apprenticeships?

Usually, it has been observed that students who are still in high school have chosen to become apprentices at the tender age of 16. But at the same time they are studying for their high school degree on a part-time basis so that they can go to college.

In Which Fields Can One Become An Apprentice? 

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Usually one is engaged as an apprentice for one to four years in a wide variety of industries like engineering, finance, veterinary nursing and accountancy. There are 1,200 jobs that select candidates as apprentices. A student gains work experience and skill training.

Some of the jobs that hire students for on-the job training are stewarding manager, IT systems, Hardware and Build Engineer, Digital marketing, Systems and Networking, Technician, Internal Service Desk Engineer, Assistant Information and Content marketing.

The average wage of any apprentice is about 170 pounds. It has been studied that on an average those who have an advanced level apprenticeship earn about 100,000 pounds and see great progress in their careers. There are several levels to apprenticeship like intermediate, advanced and higher apprenticeship.

The Growth of Apprenticeship – What Recent Studies Say

There has been a growing need to have more apprentices in IT and construction industries. John Coombes an apprentice in advanced engineering had the opportunity to complete his bachelor’s degree and found employment right after that.

There are still some academicians who frown when students claim that they are apprentices, but with time it is hopeful that this concept will change and pupils who are employed and trained are accepted everywhere.

Recent statistics have shown that in the previous academic year 510,000 apprenticeships had begun. Some of the students who have chosen to be an apprentice are over 25 years of age. It is not restricted to high school graduates alone.

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The report called Apprenticeships for the Future stated that 1.8 billion pounds worth benefits were delivered by apprentices in 2012-13.

What To Do To Fast Track Your Growth

Though there are regular courses in colleges and universities which you can avail & utilize your knowledge in the field of employment, what about those challenges that you will be thrust into when you step on the ladder of your career? As apprenticeship means “you earn while you learn”, distance learning is one of the best options that you can take to go ahead.

An online degree will not only equip you enough to face real life business challenges, it will also provide you with enormous flexibility & accessibility. You only need a computer & Internet connection.

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 Online Degree – Door To Many Paths

Getting a degree online has become so much easier. You don’t need to quit your job or refrain from getting the desired experience. Instead you can keep working towards your career and the credits which will help you get your degree. You will be astonished to discover how useful your online courses will be in practical life too. Whatever you learn can be applied when you are training to become a working professional. You can complete your bachelor’s degree and think about completing your post-graduation too. It will help your promotions at work too and recruiters would select your resumes if you have higher degrees.

So there is no reason to give either your studies or job up. Getting a degree online will ensure that your dreams come true both academically and financially. Reach the finish line with perfection and find success waiting for you in the end.

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What You Will Get Back From Your College Degree

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Every parent wants to invest money on his child’s education so that the person can earn a decent salary for a comfortable livelihood. It is true that some candidates struggle to get a job in a stagnant economy. There are many who are apprehensive about paying back loans that they have to take to complete their education. These are real problems faced by people. It makes everyone doubt about whether the degree will pay off or not.

If a student doesn’t go to college, he will be denied access to decent jobs. The jobs that will be available will pay less and will be less stable. No one wants to remain stuck at a low-level job like that of a waiter or retail sales clerk.

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 "This is what I'll call the 'Job vs. Career' trajectory. Individuals without a degree move slowly towards their highest earning potential, with somewhat stagnant early years," said Shanker Mishra, the Ladders Vice President of Data Science And Analytics. "Individuals with a college degree may start in the same compensation range, but grow exponentially over the course of their careers.”

If one attends a college with a good reputation, students can establish personal connections with people in class and can make a huge social network.

A Little Of Everything Counts

Another truth is that not only will your college degree be taken into account, but your hard work and dedication will also be judged. So take a look at the various fields of employment and the salaries that people are estimated to be getting.

What The Statistics Say 

• According to a study after obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education, people in the field of humanities like Lawyers are earning $ 79,997. The wage and job growth in this job in five years is 14% and 29%.School Health Care managers from the field of life sciences are earning $87,360. The wage and job growth rates in five years are 14% and 15%.

• The Head Nurse and Medical Supervisor in the health department are earning $76,960 with wage

  

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  and  job growth rates of 18% and 11%

•  For people who work in business administration as a financial administrator, the salary is $82,992 and the wage and job growth rates are 16% and 8%.

• In the field of engineering, a school specialized engineer gets around $79,997 and the wage and job growth rates are 28% and 7%.

• The school principal and administrator in the field of education receive$91,437 for a wage and job growth rate of 14% and 8%.

• In the social sciences, a psychologist gets $77,875 and a wage and job growth rate of 18% and 30%.

• Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists in the field of mathematics and physical sciences get $88,525. Their wage and growth rates are 19% and 3%.

 It has also been observed that the incomes of men exceeded the income of women in the similar fields.

It is evident from these reports that earning a bachelor’s degree can help any student in any relevant field to earn a salary of this kind. In the times of global recession and stagnant employment opportunities, it is still necessary that one should get a bachelor’s degree. That will ensure a bright future. It will encourage advancement of the students too if they are interested in higher studies. There will also be an opportunity to pay the debts off faster if they were incurred during studentship. So prospects are favorable for anyone who wishes to graduate and find employment in the world of globalization and universal progress.

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