Distance MBA (Part 2): Top institutes and what they teach
By Supriya Jha & Manvi Garg | 28, May 2010
With the popularity of distance
MBA on surge, countless institutes have joined the distance education
bandwagon. In this edition of Distance MBA series, MBAUniverse.com
zeroes in on five Institutes, the programs & pedagogy offering
distance MBA.
Related Articles
What is most preferred
nowadays is a pedagogy which is a well assimilated blend of study kit,
contact programs and online educational tools.
After
having mirrored the basic elements of distance MBA in the first article
of ‘Distance MBA series’, we bring to you yet another edition in
continuation. We bring to you an informative account of five key
Institutes offering Distance MBA, including the details of the programs
being offered and the various instructional methodologies employed by
them.
The five different Centers of Distance
MBA that we present before you are, AIMA-Centre for Management
Education (CME), Sikkim Manipal University – Distance Education
(SMU-DE), Institute of Management Technology – Center of Distance
Learning (IMT – CDL) Ghaziabad, Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning
(SCDL) and Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).
The first institute we reflect upon is AIMA- CME.
It is one of the top and oldest
players in the field of distance education in India. AIMA-CME offers
Post-Graduate Diploma and Certificate programs in Management that meet
emerging industry needs. One of the major advantages of distance
learning programs offered by AIMA-CME is an AICTE approved PGDM/PGDITM
degree.
“AIMA–CME has been the pioneer in
distance education in India. It has been offering management programs
in distance education mode since 1973,” asserts Dr. Kamal Singh,
Director, AIMA CME.
The major programs offered by AIMA
include Post-Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) and Post-Graduate
Diploma in Information Technology Management (PGDITM). Both these
programs are of two-and-a-half year duration and approved by AICTE and
Distance Education Council, Government of India. AIMA-CME also provides
Post-Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM). The duration of the
program is one year. It is approved by DEC, Government of India. Its
Advance Certificate in Management (ACM) lasts for six months.
In addition to above mentioned
courses, AIMA-CME is all set to launch two new programs in Post-Graduate
Certificate in Management (PGCM) area. These include PGCM in Agri
Business and PGCM in Competitive Marketing Strategy.
Both the programs are targeted to
industry professionals with relevant background and experience. AIMA-CME
will also launch four short-term programs of three months duration in
e-learning mode. These programs consist of Retail Management, Luxury
Brand Marketing, Health Care Marketing and Industrial Law.
The fee for PGDM and PGDITM that are
divided into four modules is Rs. 19,000 and Rs. 22,000 per module
respectively. The semester-wise fee for PGCM is Rs. 15,000. ACM costs
Rs. 9,000.
Stressing upon the relevance of
programs, Dr. Singh said, “AIMA-CME programs are designed as per
emerging industry needs. All the programs are structured keeping the
flexibility required by any distance learning student. No distance
learning player offers such rigorous and in-depth coverage. These
programs are well acceptable in industry.”
IMT – CDL Ghaziabad
It is another premier destination for
distance learners. Being recognized by DEC, IMT CDL is counted amongst
the leading Distance MBA B schools of the country. IMT-CDL was recently
awarded as the best B-school in distance learning by Dainik Bhaskar
newspaper.
In words of Dr. Arun Mohan Sherry,
Director, IMT CDL, “The Institute of Management Technology (IMT),
Ghaziabad is rated amongst the top 10 B schools in India. It is widely
recognized as a centre of excellence in management education, having
molded itself according to the fast changing business and social
environment over the last 29 years.”
“IMT boasts of one of the best
infrastructure in the country which is evident from its consistent high
ranking on infrastructure parameter. Its strength lies in its eminent
faculty and the quality of its courses that have in many cases, been
trendsetters,” he adds.
IMT-CDL offers a wide spectrum of
management and information technology programs. The curriculum is
constantly updated to be in touch with the dynamic global and Indian
environment.
Three-year Post-Graduate Program in
Management – the flagship program and two-year advanced Post-Graduate
Diploma in Management offered by IMT-CDL through the distance mode is
specially designed to equip the students with a comprehensive management
education.
Two-year advanced Post-Graduate
Diploma in Management offers specialization in the areas of Finance,
Marketing, Systems, Operations and Human Resource Management.
One-year Post-Graduate Diploma in
Management offers specialization in Business Management, Finance,
Marketing, Export, Retail, Insurance, Supply Chain, Material and Human
Resource Management.
The institute also offers one-year Post-Graduate Diploma courses in Taxation and Cyber Security.
For corporate and professionals,
IMT-CDL offers one-year Post-Graduate Program (Executive) and the
two-year advanced Post-Graduate Program in Management.
The fees for two-year Post-Graduate
Diploma in Management and one-year Post-Graduate Diploma in Management
(Executive) is Rs. 40,000 per annum each, while the fees for three-year
Post-Graduate Program in Management and Post-Graduate Diploma in
Taxation are Rs. 25,000 per annum each. If you have to pursue
Post-Graduate Diploma in Cyber Security, you have to pay Rs. 19,000, per
annum.
Assuring the high quality of programs
offered, Dr Sherry says, “IMT-CDL believes that it is offering programs
that are at par with the best programs. We have taken several
initiatives to continuously improve its programs.”
SMU-DE
This is another preferred destination
for pursuing correspondence MBA. It is a recognized by government and
hence an apt choice.
“We are recognized by the government -
DEC for three academic years 2009-10 to 2011-12, the university is UGC
recognized,” confirms Anand Sudarshan, MD & CEO, Manipal Education.
“We at SMU-DE deliver quality
education with more than 6,500 mentors which is why we attract the best
students in India who are looking for distance education. The quality of
students and the companies they work for is a testimonial for it,” he
adds.
SMU-DE offers Post-Graduate Diploma
programs including PG Diploma in Business Administrator (PGDBA) and PG
Diploma in Specialization Areas of MBA. PGDBA is a one-year program for
graduates from recognized university.
The one-year PG Diploma in
Specialization Areas of MBA is eligible for students from recognized
University or those who have an equivalent of a two year Post-Graduate
Diploma in Business Management from AICTE approved institutions.
SMU-DE also offers two-year Master of
Business Administration (MBA) to graduates in any discipline and from
recognized university. Master of Business Administration (MBA) Distance
Education Program provides specializations in Banking Management,
Finance Management, Human Resources, Information System management,
Marketing Management, Retail Operations, Total Quality Management,
Project Management, Operations Management and Health care services
management.
The annual fee for PGDBA and PG
Diploma in Specialization Areas of MBA is Rs. 23,400. Two-year MBA will
cost you Rs.23, 400 per annum.
To quote Sudarshan, “Our programs are
designed for working professionals. They are convenient and flexible.
Students can learn from their office or, home through the resources
available on internet. The books that are provided help to learn, even
while student is traveling.”
SMU-DE has gained a very wide reach with its numerous centers springing up at different places across the country.
“You can find our centers in 303
cities and 247 districts across the country in 725 centers. SMU-DE
authorized learning centers are present in 20 countries. More than 350
SMU-DE examination centers across India conduct more than 22 lakh
exams,” claims Sudarshan.
SCDL
SCDL is yet another well known center
for Distance MBA. It is located in the heart of India’s premier
educational centre, the city of Pune.
At present, SCDL has more than 2,
00,000 students studying under various programs. Students come from all
over India and also 42 countries abroad; representing varied educational
and cultural backgrounds.
SCDL offers a varied range of programs
which include two-year and one year post graduate diploma programs, and
also one certificate program of six months duration. The two year PG
programs are Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA)
and the One-Year Programs are Post Graduate Diploma in Insurance
Management (PGDIM) , Post Graduate Diploma in Customer Relationship
Management (PGDCRM) and Post Graduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management
(PGDSCM).
The Six-Month Certificate Program is Certificate Program in Entrepreneurship Development (CPED).
SCDL conducts classes and Personal
Contact Programs for selected courses. These Personal Contact Programs
are scheduled at the end of 1st and 2nd semester.
IGNOU
The fifth institute which we elaborate
upon is IGNOU. It is one of India's premier institutes for distance
education courses. IGNOU has achieved the distinction of becoming the
largest University in the world with 1.8 million students on its rolls.
The IGNOU student services network now has over Centre coordinated by 58
Regional Centers. At present, IGNOU offers a total of around 350
specially need based academic, professional, vocational, awareness
generating and skill-oriented programs, leading to certificates,
diplomas and degrees (bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral).
IGNOU offers its management programs under the School of Management Studies.
Starting its operation in 1987, the
School of Management Studies today offers a wide range of courses. The
School follows a system of course-wise registration in its management
program. It conducts two kinds of correspondence MBA courses: one
general and one specially meant for the banking sector.
For the first course, a student is
expected to study all 11 courses conducted in IGNOU's Post Graduate
Diploma in Management (which vary from Information Systems to Marketing
to Accounting). Following this the student must complete five courses
form one of the specialization streams, which are: Human Resources
Management, Financial Management, Operations Management and Marketing
Management.
A student must do a course in Advance
Strategic Management and Research Methodology for Management Decisions.
One is also expected to do an elective course from one of five subjects.
A project must be completed, which gains the same credits as two
courses.
This course costs Rs 800 each, which
includes examination fee. Admissions to the program are done on the
basis of the OPENMAT Entrance Exam, conducted twice a year. The IGNOU
School of Management Studies guides an entrance exam called OPENMAT
twice a year.
The Pedagogy of Distance MBA
Gone are the days, when the mention of
Distance education used to bring to the mind the monotonous picture of
heaps of study material in print, loads of books and precious readable
stuffs left at the mercy of postal services. The advent of new and
sophisticated technology has lent a new face to the Distance MBA, which
is characterized by application of faster online delivery tools like
Edunxt, EduSat, etc.
The instructional methodology forms
the cornerstone of any Distance education and distance MBA is no
exception. Different formats have been developed to educate the students
and help them pursue the correspondence MBA. While the older
traditional methods of delivering the study materials by post are being
maintained, at the same time the institutes are delving more and more
into technological sphere and utilizing it to the best. What it has
resulted in, is a pedagogy which is a well assimilated blend of study
kit, contact programs and online educational tools.
Such mixed mode methods of teaching
are among the most popular and help students tackle their course of
study through a range of teaching strategies.
Let’s have a sneak peek into the pedagogy of distance MBA offered by each of five Institutes mentioned above.
AIMA-CME - Other than
providing personal contact programs, AIMA-CME makes good use of online
learning technologies to expedite its teaching process.
“AIMA-CME plans to take its programs to masses with using of cutting edge e-learning technology,” assures Dr. Singh.
“AIMA-CME will also launch four
short-term programs of three months duration in e-learning mode. These
programs cater to the quick learning need of participant in functional
area. These programs can be taken at home or, office and the only
technology needed at participant end include a laptop and Internet
connectivity with minimum 256 kbps,” he adds.
IMT–CDL provides a
judicious mix of the distance education, online tools and contact
programs to add value to its mode of delivery. Its e- learning offers
the students access to a rich digital library with which they access top
international journals, books, recorded classroom teaching material and
a lot more.
“We use a unique combination of
distance education, e-learning and personal contact programs to create a
hybrid learning environment to students,” says Dr. Sherry.
“IMT-CDL organizes personal contact
programs where classes are held at IMT campus and other locations to aid
personal interaction. Its course curriculum and contents are updated
every six months which keeps the contents fresh. IMT CDL is interested
in delivering quality management education and it does not compromise on
its intake, course-curriculum, delivery process and examinations,” Dr.
Sherry adds.
SMU-DE believes in
utilizing more and more Technology supports like Industry mentor chat,
Webinars, academic mentor chats, videos, blogs, discussion forum, small
group mentoring, newsletters helps to plan time better and more
efficiently.
One of its salient features is EduNxt, which is an online tool for disseminating education.
“EduNxt, our online delivery system is
the only two awards winning system that is recognized by the industry
and government,” claims Sudarshan.
SCDL houses in its
campus a professionally managed Call Centre and ‘e’ Communication Centre
in order to provide prompt and accurate response to student queries.
SCDL conducts classes and Personal Contact Programs for selected
courses. These Personal Contact Programs are scheduled at the end of
first and second semester. Its instructional methodology is
characterized by flexibility and blended learning approach brought in
via Interactive e-learning modules, online exams and online assignments.
Other features are professionally managed students care center,
Pre-recorded lectures from expert faculty on important courses and
specially designed programs for corporate.
IGNOU provides
multi-channel, multiple media, teaching and learning packages for
instruction and self learning. The different components used for
teaching and learning include self-instructional print and audio-video
materials, radio and television broadcasts, face-to-face counseling and
tutoring, laboratory and hands-on experience, teleconferencing, video
conferencing, interactive radio counseling, interactive multimedia
CD-ROM and internet-based learning, and the use of mobile phones for
instant messaging .While the traditional distance education delivery
through print and study centre support is being strengthened, the
University is strengthening the development of interactive multimedia
content and learner support through video-conferencing and web-based
platforms, by utilizing both the EduSat ad the Internet.
Technology has added a Midas touch to
the distance MBA by expediting the dissemination of information and
hence enhancing the efficiency considerably. The flexibility factor is
always prominent in distance education and the various online delivery
tools have only added to the convenience.
Just a click of mouse can land you
onto significant syllabus details, case studies, etc. as per your
personal ease. Hence there is a revolutionary rise in number of students
opting to go for distance MBA.
If you too are bound by circumstances
that prevent you from attending full time classes, then distance MBA is
the right option for you and you can choose your institute of distance
MBA, by looking into details above that we gathered and presented to
you.
Want to know about what factors you
must keep in mind while choosing your DL MBA center? Then, again, this
is the right place to stay tuned to, for, in our next article of
‘Distance MBA’ series, we would bring to the fore essential factors that
should be taken into account while pursuing Correspondence MBA.
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