Online Education Never Felt So Real

As European B-schools gain on their U.S. counterparts, Instituto de Empresa in Madrid is looking to stand out. Administrators recently launched Learning via Internationally Networked Communities (LINC), an online MBA program. The school's goal is to make top-quality business education accessible to candidates who, for whatever reason, cannot uproot themselves to study abroad (see BW Online, 8/18/05, "Do Online MBAs Make the Grade?").

David Standen (DavidStanden), LINC director of marketing and communications, and student Catherine Chan (CChanIE) recently fielded questions from BusinessWeek Online B-schools Editor Francesca Di Meglio (FrancescaBW) and an audience of potential applicants. Here's an edited excerpt of the live chat:

FrancescaBW: This first question comes from an audience member who could not join us today: My name is Enyi, and I am writing from Nigeria. Is the degree issued by the online program considered on par with other highly rated MBA degrees?
DavidStanden: The truth is, businesses have been demanding more of this kind of program for a long time. They run their entire operations in a blended format -- presentational and online -- and are used to maintaining relationships using online media. They have no problem accepting this like any other MBA program.
CChanIE: Originally, I was a bit concerned about the program, but after seeing how actual businesses are conducted today, I think this program is ideal for working people. I know my company accepts this just like other MBAs.

FrancescaBW:These questions come from Alesia in Cyprus. What are the costs of this program? Is there financial aid? If so, what kind?
DavidStanden: The program costs 33,000 euros. There is financial aid available in the form of IE scholarships and third-party organizations. IE offers a broad range of scholarships, which we tend to update and redefine for every academic year.

velizalde: How old is the typical student in the program, and how many years of work experience does one need to participate?
DavidStanden: The average student in this program is 30.4 years old. Therefore, the average work experience is over six years. When we launched this program, we didn't feel that having a lot of work experience would be as critical as it is in a full-time program, because the students are all currently working. Even though we relaxed the work experience requirement, the class itself ended up being even more mature and experienced than the full-time class.

FrancescaBW: What other requirements are there to earn a spot in the program? And how many students are enrolled?
DavidStanden: The application process is exactly the same as for the international MBA, our traditional full-time program. We launched the LINC program with 33 students in over 20 countries. Participants are currently working in about 25 countries, and the class is over 50% women.
CChanIE: I received the Women in Business Scholarship from IE to assist me financially. From my experience with the admissions staff and professors, I definitely feel that this is a school that promotes equality. My classmates are incredibly diverse in terms of nationalities, careers aspirations, and age. This is why, although the number of students isn't extremely high, I've been able to learn so much. Because we all work in different time zones, we have been eager to meet each other in different countries to learn about each other's work and life experiences.

FrancescaBW: Does this program offer students any career advice? If so, what?
DavidStanden: Students in this program have the same status as any other student at IE and, therefore, have the same access to the careers department and its resources. Just as though they were on campus, a member of the careers team will detail the department's offerings during several presentations. When it comes to jobs and career, the online program offers one great advantage. All students enter a classroom full of students who are all well-employed. These are people who are doing well in their careers, which is the reason they didn't want to quit to do their MBA. They have networks with people who are currently integrated in the business world. Therefore, students don't have to wait until the end of the program to start networking.
CChanIE: My classmates and I have utilized all of our opportunities to share career experiences. For example, I met another classmate who has his own education consulting company. He helped me start my own online business.

FrancescaBW: How do classes and grades work in an online classroom?
DavidStanden:Classes start every Saturday with live video stream. Keep in mind that this is two-way, so it's not like watching television. The online sessions are very much like a [real-life] class. Everyone can see and hear each other. And people talk and answer questions just like in a classroom. The other media [are] utilized Monday through Thursday. The classes during that time are similar to an online chat format. The class is open 24 hours a day, and students log in as their schedule permits, and they interact with those who are there, read what has been discussed, and participate.
CChanIE: I feel like I am really in class. I can see my classmates and professor, but all from the comfort of my own home. And the discussion forums during the week are in-depth. Students feel less afraid to express themselves than in real classroom settings. Classes are also recorded so that students can review sessions at a later time for deeper understanding.

velizalde: Is this program really different from other online MBA programs?
DavidStanden: It's a totally new generation. We are bringing the concepts of teamwork, communication, networking, and cultural integration into fully flexible online education. Also, students have over 18 opportunities every year to either travel to a different city and take a class, or attend a community integration day. And in many cases, we actually come to them. For instance, we'll be visiting Catherine in Shanghai soon.
CChanIE:I am located in Shanghai, but I am planning to attend a strategy session in London this month, possibly another session in Madrid, and I'll be in New York in September. These are great networking opportunities and learning experiences. I joined IE primarily because it's the first renowned institution to provide an online MBA program equal to its offline counterparts. My perception is there are many online programs available, but none can rank in the same category as IE.

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