What's in it for you?
The most effective online courses promise executive education in a convenient way by allowing you to study in front a computer, where and when you want.
With leadership and management training from outstanding business school courses, you have the potential to acquire new knowledge and skills without giving up your position.
That can be a big plus. If you are a busy executive unable — or unwilling — to sacrifice your job, the best online business school can offer a handy solution through distance learning programs. By studying at home you can gain extra qualifications while continuing your career.
But you are likely to find that even the most pre-eminent online courses will underperform in certain crucial management training areas compared to one of the traditional business schools with a campus and classrooms. Let's explore that a bit further.
Improvements in technology are definitely boosting the options for online courses through the Internet. More and more business schools and universities are offering distance learning courses and programs.
Top online courses involve such features as virtual group work, video summaries, and conference calls to discuss assignments. Emails, discussion boards, and other electronic forums provide ways for you to stay in touch with other participants and professors.
The limits of online courses
Online education is a hot topic these days, but it may not be right for everyone. If you're looking to supplement your coursework or take classes on the go then an online program could work well with what interests and skillset that suits them best!
That said though there are plenty of pros & cons when considering this formative approach so do some research before making any final decisions about whether going "old fashioned" will suit YOU better than anything else...
For example, with MBA and Executive MBA programs offered only through digital courses, you stand to lose out on such features from top international business schools as:
- Small-group discussions with peers from around the world
- One-on-one sessions with expert professors
- Opportunities to network, make lifelong connections and generate career opportunities by meeting fellow participants in person
- Leadership coaching and feedback from professional coaches
- Chances to practice your leadership and management skills in front of others in a supportive environment
The future of online courses
Another practical issue with best online business school programs is how well employers and executive education experts regard them. Online business schools simply do not have the reputation of institutions that combine traditional learning techniques with distance learning programs.
You can avoid wasting time and money by ensuring that you sign up for top executive education courses from a top-ranked business school. Independent, highly regarded sources such as Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times and Forbes publish rankings of the best business schools and their management training programs.
There are a number of reasons why the top business schools in the world stay high in the rankings on a regular basis. One factor is the high quality of research conducted by faculty that feeds into the management training offered by a top-ranked business school.
Another thing to consider is the global perspective of good business schools, reflected by diverse participants from different countries and professors with international backgrounds and intimate knowledge of the global marketplace. The best institutions also collaborate closely with companies to ensure a curriculum that is relevant to the real needs of a business.
If you are mulling digital options, you need to ask yourself whether you can really count on such attributes from the best online business school.
