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A Masters of Business Administration (MBA) is one of the most highly regarded qualifications in the world and it is no surprise that there’s fierce international competition amongst universities to attract students to this course.
An MBA offers a career accelerant, a chance of higher remuneration, enhanced professional networks and wealth of practical expertise. But there are often a whole host of reasons that prevent people from jumping straight into this degree.
More often than not, the biggest problem is finding the "right time" to take on full-time or part-time study in between your career, family, financial and personal commitments.
Online study offers a flexible approach to completing an MBA.
Open Universities Australia offers RMIT University's MBA (Executive) online, with the exactly the same offerings as what's offered on-campus – same curriculum, identical assessment tasks and exactly the same degree awarded by RMIT (not OUA).
In the midst of the online higher education revolution, digital MBA programs are gaining momentum.
Paul Wappett, OUA's chief executive officer, said there was a need for universities to recognise and adapt to the changing needs of a student.
"OUA has experienced almost 30 percent growth year-on-year in enrolments for five consecutive years. The expansion in student enrolments is a reflection of the attractiveness of online education, due to its ability to fit with our students' lifestyles and work commitments," Mr Wappett said.
In 2012, Australia's most prestigious universities announced they were re-structuring their MBA programs to be more appealing to modern student who juggle multiple commitments.
RMIT’s MBA course has been specifically designed to allow for flexibility and convenience. Students can balance their study around their commitments - not the other way around. Studying the course online allows students to continue to do whatever it is that they do, including working full-time or running their own business.
OUA offers three study sessions a year allowing postgraduate students to fast track their program, if desired.
As with on-campus students, there is support and interaction between tutors and students through online discussion forums and chat sessions. The online student community collaborates, shares ideas and discusses course material, just as if they were in the classroom.
Andrew Ross, a professional from the banking sector, is currently studying the RMIT MBA program online through OUA.
Mr Ross says there was a "range of online access points that generate opportunities for collaboration and sharing of knowledge".
"With regular teleconferences between team members and some active online discussions we get the support we need," he said.
RMIT's executive MBA program allows for student to be exposed to a global business environment, without having to leave Australia.
"The international flavour of the content deals with real issues like off-shoring, leadership and management of people in a rapidly changing workplace. This knowledge in crucial when operating in an international market," Mr Ross said.
An unexpected bonus for Mr Ross was the influence his study was having at his workplace.
"What I found in the Executive MBA program was a direct link to the role I was playing leading a large, diverse people services function. The business knowledge is related and embedded almost immediately to tasks and challenges we had in the organisation," he said.
* This article was provided by Open Universities Australia as part of a commercial agreement with Fairfax Regional Media.