Does it really pay to learn while you earn?

The job market as it stands today is a competitive and often cutthroat place. With younger, hungrier and often times better qualified, if inexperienced candidates competing for the same assignments as you are, it might not be a bad idea to enhance your own skillset with an MBA, to give yourself a competitive edge, with your level of experience. This is where a part-time MBA can really add value to your professional life. But before you go hunting for such a course you must consider a few pros and cons as it were.

Questions you need to ask yourself:

Mental preparedness: Often times working professionals become set in their ways and view an additional course as a waste of their time. The question of mental preparedness is an important one, do you think you will be able to adjust to a new environment? Do you feel like the course that you seek to undertake will add to your skillset or just be an embellishment on your CV? Do you think that this will be worth the time investment you make? After all, a 3 year, part time executive MBA is a significant time investment on your part. If you are mentally prepared, by all means enrol for such a course.

Attitude: One of the things that you will need to prepare yourself with is your attitude. Just because you think you may have all the experience in the world, don’t let it come in the way of you learning. A part time MBA will seek to expand your mind and this will take an open minded approach on your part. Don’t come from a place of knowing it all, instead be open and willing to learn.

Finance: While an executive MBA isn’t as expensive as a full time one, the question of finance is still a relevant one. Some employers have tie-ups with educational institutions and thus they pay a part of the fees, making the MBA course an attractive avenue for employees. If such a tie-up does not exist, you could still pay for the course yourself, once you’ve consulted with your family about outgoings and seeking advice from the institute about flexi-payments.

The advantages of a part-time/executive MBA:

An MBA, be it a full time or an executive course is still a valuable seal to have on your CV. To the working professional even more so, as it, along with your already considerable experience will put you in the driver’s seat for better job and career advancements.

Experientially focused curriculum: The curriculum at a quality part-time MBA is more set in practical, experiential focused manner. While we cannot underrate the importance of book knowledge, but the curriculum for the more experienced professional is more about real world application of knowledge.

Higher Likelihood of Tuition Reimbursement:You stand a better chance of getting financial support from your employer if you enroll in a part time MBA than a full time one. Some larger companies sponsor their employees' education entirely, while others provide aid in the form of subsidized loans. After all, you'll apply what you learn in school in your job, day in and day out. And by the end of the program, you'll have a new credential and become more valuable to your company.

Focus on Education, Not Networking:A part time MBA is geared toward education. If you have an established career and are looking to accelerate your trajectory with limited disruption, a part time program is the perfect solution. The downside is that virtually all part time students hold jobs and have little time to devote to socializing.

Changing Careers: That's just what many part-time MBA graduates have done: used their degrees to find the career path that's right for them. Of those contacted by Bloomberg Businessweek, some have more money than before, others not so much. None regret having made a sizable investment in business education, and all say their degrees have resulted in significant advantages—giving all three the tools they needed to advance in their careers, and ultimately the confidence to strike out on their own.

The competitive advantage an MBA degree provides

The modern business world is cut-throat, competitive and ever evolving. To be able to get ahead you need to be able to adapt to the environment as well as a duck takes to water. While natural talent and ability has no replacement, adding to your arsenal with an MBA degree can add a great advantage to your chances of being the next big thing at your chosen vocation! An MBA degree moulds an individual into a thinker, a strategist and not just another employee. In today’s hyper competitive environment, an employer looks not just for an employee who can complete tasks assigned adequately. An employer though will seek out an individual, who can contribute at every stage of the work cycle. In a recent survey, most blue-chip companies show a marked proclivity to hiring strategic thinkers, who will not just be employees, but partners in the long run. One look at the who’s who of the top companies reveal one single detail, all the heads of the world’s most competitive, profitable organisations are MBAs. And that is no coincidence.

MBA or Master in Business Administration is a course that enables an individual learn in a systematic, experiential manner about the workings and nuances of the business ecosystem. What sets an MBA apart from the other postgraduate courses is the emphasis it places on experiential learning and the inter-personal communication that is an intrinsic part of the course’s curriculum. There are many such advantages of pursuing an MBA from a reputed institution and they’re as follows:

Managerial Skills: The MBA course is structured such that the knowledge students derive from the curriculum is contemporary and if applied correctly, makes one a good manager. Add to the theory, real world internships at leading corporate houses, where exposure to already efficient managers will bring the knowledge from the classroom to life and makes a world of difference to the student.

Developing and fine tuning business expertise: A major plus for students who come from a non business background. An introduction into the world of business is a vital component of the MBA education and provides real insight into the way a businessman thinks and the skill sets that sets him/her apart from an employee.

Competitive advantage: A competent MBA program prepares candidates as highly qualified leaders. The specialized skills and leadership qualities taught in MBA programs, provides you with a competitive advantage over others. Most of the leading business organizations prefer to hire MBAs for higher management positions.

Career advancement: While an MBA is by no means a golden ticket to the higher echelons of the corporate world, and a candidate has to prove his mettle in the competitive market. The career advancement of an MBA over his non-MBA peers is a matter of academia. Employers look for competence and excellence, two virtues that MBA students are taught to aspire to. That aside the real world knowledge and experience component fuel the career advancement roadmap for an MBA candidate in a lot quicker time than a non-MBA candidate.

Career Change: An MBA in general and a Dual MBA in particular, provide you with the cushion of switching your career. An MBA with particular specialization makes it easier for you to move across industries.

Business Connections and Networking: Social networking during the MBA academic term helps in establishing business contacts and referrals. In the long run, you can avail these contacts in improving your business position in the market.

It’s about being the best at what you do and more importantly, about being a leader. And that’s where an MBA degree really comes to the fore.

International Education: Fostering the future leaders of the global village: Part II

In part one of our two part series on International schools/education in the country, we took a look at the system of international schooling, understood the nuances of what sets an international school apart and the advantages of this type of curriculum in the changing international eco-system. This part takes a closer look at the attitude of parents, students and teachers towards this new form of education and the rising number of schools that offer international schools in the country, from the point of view of them being just a fad or whether this means something new and more promising for Indian students and the future of education in the subcontinent.

Attitudes towards International Education:

As is evident from the unheard of response to the international standard of education being offered in today’s educational ecosystem, that parents are looking on this trend in a favourable light. When asked about why they opted to send their children to an ‘International School’, Mr & Mrs Sethi, parents of 7 year old Rati said, “We wanted our daughter to have every competitive advantage in the modern, tech savvy world. With its emphasis on global languages, current and updated syllabus and the fact that her education can be continued without a break in any other school offering the same curriculum, international schooling is the most vital advantage, that will serve Rati well in the long run!’

An interesting point is raised by Madhurima Chatterjee, mother of 12 year old Rehaan, “I was an army brat, needless to say my family moved about a lot, this meant my education suffered quite a bit simply because of the number of adjustments I had to make, because of changing ‘boards’ of schools and states. The incompatibility of one board with another really did a number on what could have been a promising career for me. Which is why I insisted on admitting my son into an International School. In the likely event of us having to move on account of my husband’s job, at least we know Rehaan is covered on the educational front, not having to deal with the terrible incompatibilities of the Indian Education System.”

Students are challenged and intellectually stimulated in the international education set up. With its emphasis on skill building, rather than just bookish knowledge, international education nurtures liberal attitudes and fosters within the student a hunger for knowledge and curiosity to explore possibilities. Philomena Andrade, a long time teacher says, “Students are like blank slates, who come to school in the pursuit of knowledge, not just to be spoon fed information that will help them pass an examination. Our education system’s overemphasis on rote learning has created several ‘mindless drones’ that are now fast becoming obsolete. Today’s competitive global scenario calls for the open, up to date and dynamic educational curriculum, provided only by an international, open minded set up present in the International Education system.” 

Even students seem to be adapting a whole lot better to the advantages offered by the International Education model, 11 grade student Owais Abdullah has this to say, “My teachers converse with me, treat me like a person with unique skills and value my input. I’m learning global languages, interacting with fellow students from all walks of life and not being forced to ‘complete’ my books, study for set periods of time and attend a million and one tuition classes. I’m glad that I'm being trained to think for myself and not live by the constrainments of theoretical knowledge obtained from a text book!”

Passing fad or a precursor of things to come?

International education may have existed for close to a century all over the world, but it is still in its nascency in India. There is no dearth of such schools in the cities across the country. But is it going to be just a metropolitan fad? An official with the State Department of Education, on condition of anonymity has this to say, “The true test of any educational system is its adoption across all the corners of the country. In India, there is no one major system of education, as every state has its own code or ‘board’. For International Education to be any more than just a metro specific trend, the need of the hour is to set up such schools in the Class II towns and take it to a wider audience.”

It is no fluke occurrence that International schools are so popular in the metros, quite simply put, people seem to be tired of the limitations of the prevalent system of education and are looking for an alternative. An alternative that enables their kids be globally competitive and effective in their lives as professionals and better people. Richard DeSouza, father of Clayton, a grade 4 student says, “I wanted a system of education that would enable my child to be able to communicate with people of different ethnicities and orientations with ease. To be a more efficient citizen of the world and to simply be tolerant of others, with their quirks and eccentricities, and most importantly be a free thinking individual, uncloistered and sequestered by the the blinders of education. Education is meant to liberate and stoke curiosity not stifle it. International education seemed like the perfect way to achieve these goals, and thus far Clayton seems to be excelling.”

It is therefore clear as day, that International education isn’t a passing fad. Even if it never becomes a ‘mainstream’ system of education, it will remain for the enlightened among us an alternate, parallel educational system that will always be the way to go, if disillusioned by the system.

International Education: Fostering the future leaders of the global village: Part I

Education, formal education has its roots in ancient India. The Gurukul, was literally the first ‘boarding’ or residential school in the world. The Vedas delineate the world’s first curriculum as teaching students not just the basics of astronomy, science and mathematics, but a strong moral, ethical and value code, which would turn them into citizens of the world.

Circa 2014, the world as we know it is getting smaller by the day, and the need of the hour is or education to evolve to accommodate the changes, both social and cultural, in order for young minds to be moulded into future leaders and ideal citizens. It is here that a hark back to the curricula outlined by the Vedas is somehow the need of the hour. That’s where International education steps in.

In this series, we will explore the nature and scope of International education and evaluate the practical aspect of how it adds to a child’s growth as an individual and as a citizen of the modern world.

The brass tacks: What is International Education?

According to Wikipedia: An international school is a school that promotes international education, in an international environment, either by adopting a curriculum such as that of the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge International Examinations, or by following a national curriculum different from that of the school's country of residence.

In its simplest form an International Education represents a break from the conventional, established and widespread form or standard of education in a country and sets a more global, practical and wider scope of education in its place.

A little bit about International Schools: A brief history:

The notion of international education can be traced back to the time globalisation first manifested itself in the late 19th century, and a need was felt for a ‘global standard’ of education that would, in effect, enable peoples of the world to understand each other a bit better. With this end in mind the first international schools were set up in countries like Japan, Switzerland and Turkey. Today nearly 200 years later, this trend of uniform, quality education is now a part of the Indian context as well.

When does a school qualify to be or call itself an International School?

First of all, for a school to qualify as an International School, it needs to meet a set of criteria laid out by International Association of School Librarianship, in 2009 in Italy. The criteria are as follows:

●      Transferability of the student's education across international schools.

●      A moving population (higher than in state schools or public schools).

●      Multinational and multilingual student body

●      An international curriculum.

●      International accreditation (e.g. Council of International Schools, International Baccalaureate, North Eastern Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges).

●      A transient and multinational teacher population.

●      Non-selective student enrollment.

●      Usually English or French language of instruction, plus the obligation to take on at least one additional language.

The distinct advantages of an International Education:

There are several distinct advantages of an international education, chief among which are:

●      Standardisation of curriculum, enables a student to learn, without being left behind, wherever in the world he/she might be, in case of a family move.

●      Greater interaction with fellow students of varied nationalities, helps foster greater tolerance, respect and cultural exposure for a student.

●      Teachers of varied nationalities expose students to cultural nuances that are unique to the teacher’s own nation and helps bring to life the ‘world’ in a way.

●      A non-selective enrollment system makes international education accessible to a larger number of students

●      International education encourages the adoption of multiple languages that add immense value to a student.

 

The next part of our series will examine each of these advantages and go into greater detail about the rising number of such institutions in the country.