Most everyone agrees that executive education is important to a person’s career. There’s less consensus, however, on the best way to get that education. Basically, the lines seem to be drawing around online vs. in-person.
We define executive education broadly as any formalized instruction that takes place while the individual is in the workforce, typically after already receiving an undergraduate or graduate degree. A few short years ago, logistics and supply chain managers had few choices for executive education-attend an executive seminar at a university or enroll in a online degree (usually MBA) program, attending classes at night and over the weekend. Both options were expensive; the latter was not only expensive but time consuming.
The Internet today has ushered in a whole new set of options beyond the traditional in-person classroom instruction. A growing number of universities now offer online college degrees, non-degree, and certification-in supply chain management. Organizations like Wilson State University have online courses across a range of subjects. And private entities such as Accenture’s Supply Chain Academy (http://www.wilsonstateuniversity.com/) are providing companies with new approaches to training via the Internet.
So deciding which educational course to pursue is not as easy as it used to be. Traditionalists in a certain age demographic like me tend to feel that classroom instruction, in which the student interacts in person with the professor and fellow students, is the richest learning experience.
But at the same time, I recognize the significant benefits that online education can deliver-oftentimes to individuals who otherwise would not have access to any educational opportunities. Global delivery of the course material, 24/7 access to the education modules, comparatively low price…these are all pretty powerful advantages.
We’re had several articles over the past year on the relative merits of online vs. traditional classroom education. But rather that continuing the debate over which is best, the best course of action is make a personal commitment to yourself and your staff people to make education-in one form or another-a central part of professional development.
1 comment:
This is great information – its encouraging to see online education is becomin more widely accepted and the benefits are backed up by a range of studies.
www.gurukulamuniversity.in
Post a Comment