Knowledge is wisdom bestowing power onto you. MBA degree provides a broad thought over rational thinking. Making a choice of obtaining a degree in MBA could throw out lot of arenas in various forms. Different formats are provided by various institutions for students to choose from. Full time or regular MBA and MBA through correspondence are popular formats available. A regular full time MBA is pursued by being present in a vast university equipped with technologies that makes learning practical and ecstatic. A person who has time and money should take up this format to have a detailed study.
Distant or correspondence MBA provides a degree through various channels like online, interactive sessions, webinars, conferences etc. A person who is not in a position to give full time due to work commitment could choose up this format of study. Various universities across the world offer the course, so that being in any part of the world one can obtain a MBA degree from a reputed college without the need of being there.
Every opportunity strikes two ways just like each coin has two sides. Based on the factors like time and money, a choice could be made on which type of format one chooses for obtaining a MBA degree. Let us have a look on the pros and cons of each format.
Pros and Cons of Full time MBA:
The pros of obtaining a full time MBA degree are that a person gets to engage into the course in total. The focus is solely based on the course and sessions surrounded by them. There are live discussions, like-minded people to interact with, best faculty to impart knowledge and facilities that urge one to acquire it the best way. Seminars and training with industry experts help in getting a feel of how corporate culture and system work. Alumni meets are organized so that present batch of students could engage with them and are likely to understand it in a better way being within the same generation.
The cons of obtaining a full time degree are that an individual is required to invest substantial resources in terms of time and money. Relocating to another city or country is another major decision to be taken up requiring lot of arrangements to be made prior.
Pros and Cons of Distant/Correspondence MBA:
The pros of distant or correspondence MBA gives an opportunity to obtain a MBA degree with proper study along without interrupting the normal course of life. It leads to studying at one’s comfort convenience than doing it at the campus. It provides an edge at the workplace with added knowledge from the MBA course. Newer technologies are introduced like Webinars and virtual learning that make the learning sessions more interactive and real. It helps an individual to keep working and still learn online for the MBA degree. It provides more insights into the situations that are dealt in corporate life and also improves strategically.
The cons of such learning are that there is not much face to face interaction with the faculties of the university. The doubts and clarifications could not be solved as easily as a full time college. The reputation of a college plays an important role so that the course is validated and appropriately used to enhance one’s employment. A good reputed college would provide this degree with due validation and also provide better employment opportunities. Distractions at home could interrupt with the virtual learning pattern and juggling between this can create a negative impact on the study. Lastly if there is no proper availability of internet and bandwidth available it could hamper the pattern of study and sessions taken.
Being a part of a university that imparts knowledge with real life experiences and use of best technologies is the one that stands true to the values of providing education. I was a part IBS for pursuing regular MBA, and as a personal experience it was the best way I could have pursued this degree. Integrating skills, knowledge, interacting with fellow students and faculty, having live discussions over case studies, making presentations using the best technologies were some of the modes through which management and business skills were shared. Time and money along with a passion to understand the key factors lead me to choose this format.
The faculty present themselves as role models with their career experience and sharing of real life experiences they faced. The modules are divided in a manner that a student would effectively grasp the terms of management and strategy. By the end of the course one would become expert with a talent of people management and imparting strategies to resolve issues in a business scenario.
On the other hand a person, who is actively involved in business, either his or under employment, would still be interested into a MBA course to get a detailed understanding of how management actually works. Under this situation, an executive MBA or correspondence course could be pursued. Balancing the family and business situation along with correspondence course needs persuasion and dedication to get the real outcome. There are various reputed institutions that provide degrees in both formats with best material and resources. ICFAI University is one such reputed institution that provides both formats and course is designed appropriately.
A student choosing either format needs to carry a detailed analysis on what is the future course of action that he/she plans. For example a person fresh out of graduation could choose a regular full time MBA so that he can plan his work for the future to become employable in a company or become an entrepreneur. On the other hand, a person who is actively involved in business and his family responsibilities, but wants to enhance his skills in management could take up executive MBA.
The formats have been designed that could suit any individual undertaking this study. Therefore a choice needs to be made based on how an individual draws his/her career path. Various companies tying up with various premier business schools who enroll their employees to these programs so that they can enhance their skills and also helps in retaining them through bonds.
Opportunities strike when decisions are made with logic and passion
Regular or correspondence, MBA will endorse one in every situation
Contributed by Anju Bafna ( Class of 2010, IBS BANGLORE )