Top institutes for Online management programmes

Ipsita Sarkar Gupta | shiksha.com

An online Masters in Business Administration (MBA) is a form of distance learning program that uses virtual learning platform or e-learning to impart lessons. All one requires is access to active internet connection or ability to reach the city-specific virtual learning centre. It could be said that online MBA is somewhere between a regular MBA and correspondence MBA.

Who should pursue it?

Online MBAs are especially designed for working executives, though anyone meeting the eligibility criteria can pursue it. Typically, most of these courses ask for certain years of work experience – anywhere between 2 to 7 years – as eligibility criteria.

Program details and requisites

The objective of online programmes is to create a classroom-like environment via virtual medium, where students and faculty can interact with each other. In some programmes the candidates can directly interact with faculty via satellite communication, while in others, candidates pursue online lessons. NIIT Imperia and Hughes Communications India Ltd are two leading platforms offering these online MBAs.

“There is no financial instability for the candidate or the requirement for geographical relocation. All one needs to do is attend the mandatory online classes,” says, Anuradha Manjul, public relation officer, IIM Lucknow.

The courses are held on certain days every week in a virtual learning centre. In some cases, online lessons are available round the corner for the benefit of the student. They are often accompanied with a small campus tour towards the end. Almost all the leading B-schools in India are offering such satellite-based programmes, costing anywhere between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh. Although CAT, XAT, GMAT and other management test scores are not required, seats are offered after some form of candidate scrutiny and at the discretion of the institute.

Before selecting the MBA programme, a candidate should check if the institute is accredited by concerned apex body.

Duration

Based on the duration, the management programmes offered by B-schools can broadly be categorised into

• Long Duration Programmes (LDP), that typically ranges from one to two years
• Management Development Programs (MDP), that ranges anywhere between two days to few months. Certificates are awarded at the end of MDPs.

Here’s shiksha.com look at the top institutes/universities offering satellite or online management courses: