ONLINE MBA COURSES GAIN HEFT

B-SCHOOLS ADD REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE TO ONLINE COURSES TO ADD VALUE TO THEIR OFFERINGS.

- URVASHI MISHRA

IN THE DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE of 2023, Sharika Jain, a digital marketing specialist, manages a full-time job while immersing herself in challenges of a full-time Masters in Business Administration (MBA) course. How is she undertaking two gruelling endeavours when most people find it tough to manage even one? The answer is online MBA— God’s or rather AICTE’s (All India Council For Technical Education’s) answer to those who struggle with the predicament of choosing one over the other.

It was more than a decade ago that the notion of giving a fillip to the career with a respectable degree from the comfort of one’s home was considered. But a paradigm shift came in March 2021 when AICTE decided to recognise online MBAs, though with some caveats (degree must state it is ‘online’ and minimum 50% marks in graduation). It also said that classroom infrastructure was no longer essential for offering an online MBA degree. This, along with Covid, gave a push to the online avatar of what had started off as a post-graduate diploma in 1960s and 70s. The pandemic, especially, became a catalyst for individuals such as Rajat Agarwal, who seized the opportunity to upskill and expand his family business. “Being online was more flexible and affordable in every way,” he says.

Agarwal’s story echoes a broader trend. A Redseer Strategy Consultants report predicts that total addressable markets for online higher education and lifelong learning are expected to reach $3.6 billion and $1.2 billion, respectively, in FY25. This will be a massive jump from $400 million and $100 million, respectively, in FY20.