"Distance Learning" Vs. evening classes
Discussion
I'm looking at doing an HND in Buniness & Managment with a view to "topping up" to a degree at the end. This is available at a couple of colleges and universities locally but I've also seen it as a distance learning option elsewhere.
The latter option seems the most flexible as it can be done purely from home but does require a greater degree of motivation!
What I'm interested in though, is at the end, do people see "distance learning" courses as a second rate type of qualification? The equivilent of an "Oxford Brooks" Degree Vs. an "Oxford" degree, if you see what I mean?
I already have a degree in Engineering from Brunel, this would be an option to assist my career progression.
The latter option seems the most flexible as it can be done purely from home but does require a greater degree of motivation!
What I'm interested in though, is at the end, do people see "distance learning" courses as a second rate type of qualification? The equivilent of an "Oxford Brooks" Degree Vs. an "Oxford" degree, if you see what I mean?
I already have a degree in Engineering from Brunel, this would be an option to assist my career progression.
As you say, it's down to motivation. I've just finished a post-grad diploma by doing night classes for two years and I'm in no doubt that had I done distance learning, I wouldn't have finished it. I wouldn't say that distance learning is perceived any differently to doing the qualification on campus; at the end of the day your certificate will say "Degree X", not "Degree X (Distance learner)".
My cousin is doing a similar course. He was never the academic type at school and trained as a mechanic. He moved to a company who make container handlers on the service side and worked his way up to a management position and is doing this course with their encouragement. He is doing this via the OU.
He got the results through for his module and is doing well. He does say it is difficult to motivate yourself though so I suppose it is down to what your discipline is like. I know I wouldn't do it and would prefer the taught option. The trouble is though that night school can be a killer.
I wouldn't worry about the course reputation unless you are making a drastic change in career. Your degree from Brunel will speak for itself - there's no harm in topping it up with another type of qualification.
Good luck.
He got the results through for his module and is doing well. He does say it is difficult to motivate yourself though so I suppose it is down to what your discipline is like. I know I wouldn't do it and would prefer the taught option. The trouble is though that night school can be a killer.
I wouldn't worry about the course reputation unless you are making a drastic change in career. Your degree from Brunel will speak for itself - there's no harm in topping it up with another type of qualification.
Good luck.
College versus distance learning?
It depends on whether you need the motivation of having to turn up at a venue each week for a couple of years which involves travel time and usually copying down loads of second hand notes. Or whether you can self-motivate enough to put in an average of 8-10 hours self-learning per week (excluding the travel time) for a HND to work through professionally designed learning materials, that should be online with discussion forums. If you engage in the forums, like you are on PH, they should provide you with all the motivation you need to study regularly. Also, a good distance learning course is designed to be modular from 'bite size' daily study chunks through to regular scheduled assessments, so all you need to do is follow the study schedule to succeed.
The 'self-motivation' required for distance learning is often considered as a positive by future employers i.e. you have demonstrated your ability to work independently over a period of time and finish something important. The HND and Degree certificates generally don't specify 'distance learning' so you don't need to advertise it unless you want to.
Given you already have a degree and want to study business and management I suggest you should be considering an MBA - why do you want another degree, it won't further your career.
PM me if you want more specific information. I am an ex University Prof now CEO of an education organisation that works with 10 UK universities providing distance learning qualifications to 1000’s people worldwide.
It depends on whether you need the motivation of having to turn up at a venue each week for a couple of years which involves travel time and usually copying down loads of second hand notes. Or whether you can self-motivate enough to put in an average of 8-10 hours self-learning per week (excluding the travel time) for a HND to work through professionally designed learning materials, that should be online with discussion forums. If you engage in the forums, like you are on PH, they should provide you with all the motivation you need to study regularly. Also, a good distance learning course is designed to be modular from 'bite size' daily study chunks through to regular scheduled assessments, so all you need to do is follow the study schedule to succeed.
The 'self-motivation' required for distance learning is often considered as a positive by future employers i.e. you have demonstrated your ability to work independently over a period of time and finish something important. The HND and Degree certificates generally don't specify 'distance learning' so you don't need to advertise it unless you want to.
Given you already have a degree and want to study business and management I suggest you should be considering an MBA - why do you want another degree, it won't further your career.
PM me if you want more specific information. I am an ex University Prof now CEO of an education organisation that works with 10 UK universities providing distance learning qualifications to 1000’s people worldwide.
Phil. said:
...I suggest you should be considering an MBA...
I'm just coming to the end of the 2nd year of a 3 year part time MSc Management course and will be starting my dissertation in a couple of months (Sept).I didn't have the option to do an MBA and wondered what the difference is between that and an MSc as far as a prospective employer is concerned.
Which would be perceived as 'better' and why?
I would say that I've really enjoyed the taught aspect of this course and the time has absolutely flown by.
It's been hard enough to get motivated to deliver quality assignments, so I don't think I could have managed this as a distance learning course and as such wouldn't recommend this option.
Little Nicky said:
I'm just coming to the end of the 2nd year of a 3 year part time MSc Management course and will be starting my dissertation in a couple of months (Sept).
Congratulations! Successfully undertaking any Masters qualification part-time requires real commitment and is a big achievement. Little Nicky said:
I didn't have the option to do an MBA and wondered what the difference is between that and an MSc as far as a prospective employer is concerned.
Which would be perceived as 'better' and why?
Generally, the difference between an MSc Management and MBA programme is that the MBA is considered to provide a more 'applied' experience of management development. The MBA normally requires the applicant to demonstrate a certain level and duration of management experience prior to entry whereas the MSc Management student could have no management experience when applying. The rest is down to a comparison of specific MSc and MBA programmes, all of which are different. Which would be perceived as 'better' and why?
So in answer to your question. You have demonstrated your potential to complete a Masters programme so any prospective employer should be more interested in your management experience and future potential, than in your specific qualification.
I am currently doing an evening course at Staffs uni in Business Management Part time..4 years for a degree 2 times a week, about 6 hours lectures in total.
I would recommend it because you learn in an environment where you can build relationships with tutors and fellow students...To support and bounce ideas off which would offer but to a lesser degree.
You will also make some new friends to motivate you through as well..
Doing the evening class also means you have to turn up and do something, which distance learning could not give you..
I hadn't been in school for neraly 10 years and have found it hard, but my personnal goal was just to get to all the lectures and then take it from there..
When i have free study periods it can be hard to sit down in front of a computer and study, something I didn't mind doing at uni..
I would recommend it because you learn in an environment where you can build relationships with tutors and fellow students...To support and bounce ideas off which would offer but to a lesser degree.
You will also make some new friends to motivate you through as well..
Doing the evening class also means you have to turn up and do something, which distance learning could not give you..
I hadn't been in school for neraly 10 years and have found it hard, but my personnal goal was just to get to all the lectures and then take it from there..
When i have free study periods it can be hard to sit down in front of a computer and study, something I didn't mind doing at uni..
Phil. said:
Little Nicky said:
I'm just coming to the end of the 2nd year of a 3 year part time MSc Management course and will be starting my dissertation in a couple of months (Sept).
Congratulations! Successfully undertaking any Masters qualification part-time requires real commitment and is a big achievement. Little Nicky said:
I didn't have the option to do an MBA and wondered what the difference is between that and an MSc as far as a prospective employer is concerned.
Which would be perceived as 'better' and why?
Generally, the difference between an MSc Management and MBA programme is that the MBA is considered to provide a more 'applied' experience of management development. The MBA normally requires the applicant to demonstrate a certain level and duration of management experience prior to entry whereas the MSc Management student could have no management experience when applying. The rest is down to a comparison of specific MSc and MBA programmes, all of which are different. Which would be perceived as 'better' and why?
So in answer to your question. You have demonstrated your potential to complete a Masters programme so any prospective employer should be more interested in your management experience and future potential, than in your specific qualification.
Interestingly, I am being 'sponsored' by my organisation to attend this course, and the pre-requisite was that delegates already had at least 5 years management experience at a fairly senior level.
This may be because most of us left school in the mid to late 80's (to give you an idea of our collective ages) and the university wanted to ensure that we were up for it after all these years
So I thought 2 years ago - MSc qualification with no student loan at the end of it to pay off and a job with guaranteed progression to boot
happy days.All I would say to anyone thinking about undertaking such a course is that it will impact your life day-to-day for the duration of the course, but the rewards and feelings of achievement (especially if you're in your late 30's early 40's) out-weigh any perceived and experienced downsides.
Whatever the OP decides to do, good luck
Edited by Little Nicky on Monday 13th July 20:39
I'm currently doing a degree through the OU. As long as you have the motivation and you can see a clear goal at the end then it's worth doing.
Also the OU supply you with all the course matirial you need to help with the course, I do find that I am kind of being spoon fed the information though.
Uually the tutors are good at keeping in touch with you and they have forums for each subject, so it's like a class room where you can share ideas and talk to other people doing the same course at the same time as you.
If you want more info to get a feel for what it's like doing an OU course feel free to PM me.
Also the OU supply you with all the course matirial you need to help with the course, I do find that I am kind of being spoon fed the information though.
Uually the tutors are good at keeping in touch with you and they have forums for each subject, so it's like a class room where you can share ideas and talk to other people doing the same course at the same time as you.
If you want more info to get a feel for what it's like doing an OU course feel free to PM me.
Forget about the Hnd and go straight for the MBA is my advice as I did my MBA part time following my first degree and a Diploma in Marketing.
If you do the course part time you get to meet a whole new group of like minded people to bounce ideas off, discuss theories, argue with and give and take motivation and support.
It will be very hard work, will almost kill your social life outside of the course as you will also be holding down a full time job and the course time has to come frrm somewhere, but the satisfaction and joy of learning is worth it almost as much as getting the qualification.
Cheers,
Tony
If you do the course part time you get to meet a whole new group of like minded people to bounce ideas off, discuss theories, argue with and give and take motivation and support.
It will be very hard work, will almost kill your social life outside of the course as you will also be holding down a full time job and the course time has to come frrm somewhere, but the satisfaction and joy of learning is worth it almost as much as getting the qualification.
Cheers,
Tony
IMO distance learning misses one of the most valuable things about doing a degree, that being meeting and being around professors and other students of the same subject.
I realise this isn't practical for everyone, but I would always say go for face to face learning if at all possible.
I realise this isn't practical for everyone, but I would always say go for face to face learning if at all possible.
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