Distance learning may be the answer

Range of delivery is the key to success in more adaptable MBA courses, says Martin Thompson

Grace Gnaegi works as a consultant in Amman, Jordan, and is enrolled as a distance learning student on the Open University Business School's certificate of management – the first step towards an MBA. Despite the outbreak of war in Iraq, she was determined not to miss out on a recent residential component of her course to be held in Brussels. Finding Amman airport closed, she made a hectic 30-hour dash by car across Lebanon, then by plane and train through Europe to reach Brussels in time for the workshop. "The effort was well worthwhile," Grace reflects. "I was able to meet fellow students face-to-face for the first time, and the ensuing exchange of views and perspectives was tremendously valuable."

For those who want the extra muscle of an MBA qualification yet cannot commit the time or the money to study away from home and job, distance learning may be the only practical solution. The Web may have eased communication, but, as Grace's Gnaegi's story underlines, many people are daunted by the prospect of studying over three years or more without some degree of live contact with tutors and fellow learners.

The Open University Business School (OUBS), Europe's largest provider of distance learning business courses, has 30,000 students enrolled in 44 countries. The school has adopted a "blended learning" approach, as Mark Fenton-O'Creevy, director of the Masters programme explains: "Simply because we use distance learning methods doesn't mean we fail to appreciate the value of face-to-face collaboration and dialogue. Wherever they study in the world, our students have access to 'live' local tutorials and are also expected to attend short residential courses. These face-to-face activities not only give students the opportunity to network with their peers but also provide an important boost to their confidence as learners, particularly in the early stages of the course."

The Business School at Imperial College, London, has taken a very different approach with its new distance learning MBA launched last year. There is no element of face-to-face contact between students and staff during the three to five years in which students have to complete the course. "Although we do use printed materials, it was the potential of the Web and the ease of online support that convinced us this approach would work," explains course director Roger Betts. "Students have the support of both an academic and a personal tutor who will respond rapidly via email, and there is continuous discussion of common topics with fellow students via dedicated bulletin boards and a virtual 'student café'."

The OUBS has a more cautious approach to the use of electronic course delivery. Mark Fenton-O'Creevy says: "Our experience tells us that students have a resistance to reading great quantities of text on screen. Nonetheless, the interaction between students via the internet can often be more reflective than the pressured debate within a short residential seminar. The trick is to use the new systems where they will guarantee a richer learning experience."

There are more than 20 business schools in the UK offering MBAs via distance or open learning. What are the hallmarks of the best courses? Ultimately, it comes down to the quality of support and materials. Apart from significantly lower costs and a flexible time frame, one of the great advantages of a distance learning MBA is the fact that you study alongside your day job. "It's therefore important to establish how effectively a particular course will enable you to apply new theoretical knowledge within the workplace," says Mr Fenton-O'Creevy.

One guide to quality is an accreditation from the Association of MBAs, which endorses 10 UK distance learning MBAs. Bearing in mind that drop-out rates can be high, particularly in the first year, the Association's educational services director, Peter Calladine, emphasises the importance of finding out whether there will be opportunities to meet fellow students in support groups. "Easy networking with well-connected alumni is another factor to look out for, as is the reputation of the business school within your chosen profession," he says.

Beyond the established traditional distance learning MBAs from the OUBS, Henley and Warwick and the trend for niche versions such as Manchester's MBA in finance management, there is a trend to allow students to mix and match delivery methods. If you are seeking a more flexible approach to studying for an MBA which may combine elements of distance learning and part-time on-campus study, Strathclyde, Kingston and Aston business schools all have innovative study programmes which may well fit the bill.