There are several advantages of enrolling in an MBA program that we discussed in a previous article (available here). However, remote or distance business education is a different thing. That is why it is useful to go through the pros and cons of a remote MBA program.
Pros
There are several key advantages of enrolling in a distance MBA program. First of all, if you choose wisely, you can have the same amount of knowledge and education received as in a regular offline MBA program. So, the knowledge quality doesn’t suffer.
Second, all distance education programs have great accessibility. You can be sitting at home or at any place that you find comfortable and take your courses. You have the possibility to stay in your hometown. You have the possibility to continue your everyday activities. You have the possibility to carry on with your current job. Accordingly, this greater flexibility with distance business education programs is one of the most important advantages they offer.
Third, any distance MBA program allows using a great variety of modern technological tools, as far as they concentrate on providing the same experience as a regular educational program. They try to use the most advanced technological tools (like remote video conferences, project-based approach, online proctoring, etc.) available on the market at the moment in order to let students have the same feeling as studying in person and living at a campus.
Cons
There are several disadvantages of any distance MBA program. First of all, it is the lesser availability of in-person advice from the course counselors or professors during lectures or seminars. As a result, there is less possibility to discuss and understand some difficult points of any educational material.
Second, there is less possibility to communicate with your peers on campus or participate in other offline activities. Students have fewer chances to bond and create a business network of contacts that will help in a future career.
And finally, an important disadvantage of any online program is a lack of self-discipline and being prone to procrastination. Professors on campus require you to be on time and to complete your projects subject to deadlines. They constantly remind students of the tasks ahead and the stages to finish them. Conversely, with an online educational course or program, it is much easier to have all your assignments put away for some time and to be completed with less fervor.
Conclusion
All in all, enrolling in a remote business education program may be a great idea. However, potential students should be aware of both the possibilities the distance approach offers and the risks remote education has.
