Why International Professionals Prefer Online Graduate Education
The following is a guest post:
Peter is a financial analyst working at a prominent bank in New Zealand who wants to expand his business management skills and gain exposure to an international network of professionals in his field. For Peter, the idea of pursuing a full-time MBA at a local university is not feasible as his work and family responsibilities do not allow him to quit his job for two years. A part-time MBA at the local university is not exactly what he has in mind either as he wants more exposure to international banking and managerial practices. The best option for Peter is an international online MBA.
Like Peter, thousands of executive students around the world are pursuing online Master’s degrees from top world universities that offer several benefits. Some of the factors that encourage international professionals to pursue an online degree include:
• Flexible Schedules: Online programs allow students to choose when and where to participate in their courses
• A Global Professional Network: Because online programs are available and accessible to international participants, these programs attract professionals from all over the world
• Cost: Because online graduate programs do not incur facilities costs, they tend to be more affordable. Also, participants do not have the added cost of moving to a new country or location.
• Global Opportunities: Many online graduate programs offer the opportunity to attend face-to-face seminars or participate in professional projects in other countries. These opportunities allow participants to gain hands-on international experience and collaborate with their global classmates. The added bonus of traveling and seeing new places is of course a plus!
• A Community of Practice: Because an online learning environment provides a safe haven to diverse ideas, discussions and potential solutions, more students feel safe when “voicing” their opinions and “speaking up” their minds. This open collaborative environment creates a community of practice that can assist students in their professional careers for many years to come.
These factors combined with the variety of online and blended graduate programs available at prestigious universities allow international students to not only obtain their Master’s degrees online, but also connect with other global professionals, find unique opportunities, and become part of an international community of professionals in their fields.
About the Author
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Denisse Romero, MS, EdM is an International Education Consultant and the founder of MacQuil.com – an international higher education portal. MacQuil.com publishes a ranking list of the Top Ten Online MBA Programs in the world.
