What Makes an Online Master of Business Administration Course Stand out?

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Every year, tens of thousands of aspirants sign up for a master of business administration course. However, only a very few get through and receive the training. It is due to various factors such as:

• Score bottlenecks
• Limited admission spots
• A lack of reputed institutions in the locality
• Cost of education
• High competition for prestigious institutions’ admission spots

The students who do make it through the admission process also have to face many hurdles along the way. As many institutions are in the cities, students have to spend a chunk on relocating. In addition, they have to spend on accommodation, transport, and food. A full-time degree is also time-consuming and doesn’t allow students to work during the course.

The challenges don’t end there either. The curriculum is often outdated and lacks practical training and real-time industry insights. These sub-par educational standards don’t cut it for industries looking for qualified graduates. And graduates end up struggling to find jobs in the end.

Demand for MBA Graduates in Africa

The demand for graduates with a business administration course is also on a significant rise since 2010, reports Anne Wilson. She is a general manager of the South African Business Schools Association (SABSA).

Africa has experienced rapid growth in the past decade to become the world’s newest industrialized economy. The continent offers cheap labor and resources. Investment opportunities are abundant and actively sought out by many developed nations. For instance, Saudi Arabia promised South Africa $10bn of investment. But there seems to be a shortage of well-trained business leaders to take up roles.

The Advent of an Online Master of Business Administration Course

Despite the promising future, the number of graduates remains low due to these limiting factors. The recent advancement in education, master’s degree in business administration (MBA) requires:

• Lesser investment of time and money
• High ROI

This is the reason online MBAs have become a popular choice in recent times.

Popularity increased after prestigious institutions like TAU started offering their MBA course online. E.g., TAU’s online MBA degree found success with thousands of students from across the globe signing up. Like aspirants, various universities have also entered the African market.

Like traditional programs, the online program offers business insights and learning from the industry. These online MBA courses have an updated curriculum as well. It briefs students on the most up-to-date data and practices that will help them make educated decisions.

Businesses, too, have significantly evolved, especially in the past decade. We have advanced business structuring, research process, programs, big data, and artificial intelligence. The master of business administration course has also developed and diversified over the years, now branching out to:

• General Management
• Accounting
• Human Resource Management
• Project Management
• Finance
• Information Technology and Business Analytics
• Marketing
• Strategic Management
• Banking and Insurance Management

How to Choose an MBA Specialization?

There are various MBA specializations offered by business schools in Africa. Not to mention, it tends to confuse students trying to pick a domain. Listed below are a few factors that might come in handy while choosing an MBA specialization.

Scope of the Specialization

The demand for various specializations varies depending upon each country’s industrial sector. It is best to do your research before committing to a field. You can look up data regarding the growth of the specific market sector. And talk to tenured professionals regarding this to get a solid idea of the domain.

The Reputation of the Institute

It is also essential to know the reputation of the institute you are enrolling with as online brochures can be deceiving. To understand its value:

• Check for accreditations
• Read testimonials
• Connect with alumni

Further Study Opportunities

An MBA program is a stepping stone toward pursuing research and sub-specialized certifications and even a PhD. However, earlier, it might be useful to keep your career path in mind while deciding on your specialization.

Faculty and Platform Quality

Since this is an online course, it is good practice to know about the faculty and its online platform to conduct classes. A reputed organization would have experienced faculty as well as an online platform to aid your education.

ROI

It’s time to start thinking like a real businessman. You will have to calculate the MBA specialization’s investment return. So, you must choose an online MBA specialization that assures a high return on its investment.

How is the Online MBA different?

The online master of business administration course also makes it easy to be accessible to many and keeps the curriculum updated too. This flexibility aims to bring more value and accessibility to more students across Africa.

The demand from African students further elucidates that the advent of online MBA programs in Africa may be the right thing to do at the right time. Students of online MBA courses define that it wasn’t something that the traditional degree courses had offered to them.

Traditional B-school degrees are swiftly losing steam in today’s fast-changing world. Meanwhile, business schools have become a great way to gain advanced business and management education. It provides students with a quick completion time and guarantees up-to-date educational quality.

Traditional MBA courses in Africa costs approximately USD 16,459, according to SABSA. And the top schools like UCT charge around $20,000. On the contrary, an online MBA course costs less and saves you more in terms of travel, food, and accommodation. You would have spent that money if you chose to do a traditional course at a business school in the city.

Meanwhile, the online MBA course at Texila American University serves as an accessible format for students. This highly acclaimed university in Zambia uses a unique teaching methodology, named BRICS. The system segments the curriculum into an easy-to-learn form. The program’s flexibility, coupled with a reasonable fee and flexible payment option, makes it an excellent choice for many. Also, working professionals can pursue their MBA degrees without compromising their job. It makes the MBA degree convenient for African students to pursue a course for which they won’t have to leave their businesses or jobs.

Confession of Mr. Yanga Elias Lagu, an MBA graduate from Texila

He feels that an MBA degree taught in a traditional setup fails to address the students’ requirements and convenience. Moreover, he has chosen this online MBA degree at Texila to save time and money, the two significant disadvantages of taking a regular MBA degree.

It is the best flexible online study program designed for busy professionals who want to advance their career. The program is motivating and calls for maturity and proper time management to balance your work life and study life to meet deadlines for completing academic assignments and routine work tasks.

Mr. Yanga Elias Lagu says.

Similarly, most working professionals look for feasible solutions to pursue their master’s degrees. Today, most African students are looking to grow by:

• Learning fast
• Developing new skill sets in a fast-paced business environment,
• Networking with like-minded professionals
• Learning from highly experienced faculty on the go

Texila is not just helping professionals get their MBA amidst their busy schedules. TAU is also guaranteeing better quality business management courses.

Traditional MBAs are getting tedious as well as becoming an expensive prospect for students. Also, the MBA world is heading toward a dynamic change. Also, TAU’s online MBA program will define Africa’s industrial future by producing qualified talent.