Editorial
distance learning
Distance Learning
"recruiters don’t value
distance Learned MBAs as
much as they value campus-
based MBAs right?" By
Manuel Fernandez de Villalta,
Associate dean of Online
education at ie Business
School, Madrid, Spain
n the past, distance learning MBAs have
I
been seen as poor substitutes for the real
deal of the full time campus based
experience. They have often been
accused of providing a substandard
learning environment, lacking key elements
such as the chance to build the all important
network, and subsequently being undervalued
by recruiters. Although today there is still a high
degree of variability within online offerings,
many of these preconceptions are now being
challenged, indeed the new wave of high
quality online learning technologies are together globally diverse participants in real- and group based learning as central elements
redefining the very notion of distance learning. time as well as asynchronously with online of the experience. The number of the
Just as we see the business environment being technologies, what was previously lumped interventions and length of the programs can
transformed by these technologies so education under the title of distance learning is in be very different, so that participants with
is also undergoing a dramatic shift. reality a wide range of diverse learning different workloads can participate in a way that
With institutions now capable of linking models and modes of study. Models based allows them to maximize their time in the
entirely on self-learning are mostly being program. The traditional weekend or bi-weekly
phased out, with many programs adopting a MBA might also now include substantial
“With institutions now
blended style, usually involving a number of periods of online study.
face to face interventions and periods of
capable of linking together
online study. Technology and the mode of Face to face
globally diverse participants in
study now allows participants in an online Here at IE Business School we are seeking to
environment to take the best elements of the take this further, utilizing a number of
real-time, what was previously
case method and class discussion from the technologies to provide our Global MBA
lumped under the title of
full time presential MBAs. students with live face to face videoconference
This then gives participants the opportunity sessions with their professors and classmates on
distance learning is in reality a
to meet with their class mates both face to face a weekly basis. This allows full participation of
wide range of diverse learning
and online, allowing them to undertake many students in discussions; they solve cases in their
of the soft skill elements now critical to all MBA work groups, present their findings, and discuss
models and modes of study.”
programs. Many programs have similar focuses them with the rest of the class. The rest of the
to their full time counterparts, using case studies week they spend in an asynchronous learning
76 TopMBA CAreer Guide
www.topmba.com
TopMBA CAreer Guide
www.topmba.com 77
MBA_SPR09_pp_052-155.indd 76 17/2/09 15:32:05
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