EDUCATION BLOG

By Savia Rajagopal-Shah 

  

Are distance education programmes really adding to your resume? Or should you reconsider the benefits of a full-time programme? Here’s weighing the options... 

Short on time

With time at a premium, and a multitude of tasks to accomplish, do you find yourself wondering if you’ll ever head back to school again? Your answer could be a programme offered through distance education. Many believe it’s a heaven-sent – and why not? You can work and earn a degree at the same time! 

First person

Why do correspondence programmes find so many takers? Shanta Nair, a banking and finance professional, fills us in, “I wanted to work immediately, but it was also important that I pursue higher education. Correspondence education was the answer! A mere graduate degree gets you nowhere nowadays.”    

On the right track

Though much maligned for adding no real value to your resume, Deepak Deshpande, Head, Human Resources, Lionbridge Technologies Pvt Ltd, India, debunks that theory about distance education. “Having a distance education degree sends out a strong message to the interviewers (about the interviewee), showing a eagerness to learn, quick learning skills, a desire to grow and the willingness to walk that extra mile,” he confides.  

The pros

So you are working and think you can gain more from these programmes? You’re RIGHT! Many experts feel that working professionals are more equipped to apply classroom theory to real-life situations.  Pick correspondence courses if:

·      You are looking to upgrade your existing skill set

·      You want a professional qualification that boosts your market value

·      You want to make a serious career switch and need validation in the form of a degree. 

The cons

Like it or not, in the case of freshers, employers still prefer full-time students, picked straight off the campus. When it comes to the moolah, the pay packages you receive as a ‘correspondence’ student might be lower than that for those with conventional qualifications.  Those considering full-time studies have added benefits at hand such as:

·      Building teamwork, honing communication skills

·      Inculcating other key skills such as leadership, interpersonal skills, etc

·      Building a network with industry people and other peers. 

How far will it get you?

Although distance education programmes find many takers, do they really add value to your resume? YES! Deshpande affirms that there has been a shift in popular thinking, adding, “Academic qualifications through distance education mode are now widely accepted.” But, he cautions, “When hiring laterally, distance education qualifications are accepted, though the first choice would still be conventional full-time degrees unless the candidate with a background in distance education scores on other parameters.”  

Before choosing a distance education programme, know that…

·      Vocational/ professional courses are preferred, for example, BEd, MBA, PhD, MCA, BTech, MSc and a host of certificate and diploma courses.

·   The institute has accreditation that is valid and certified by the regulating educational authority. 

The final word

In today’s world, we’re lucky because distance education is no longer viewed as a drawback. Consider it a blessing and go ahead, take the distant route! 

(Opinions quoted in the above article are those of individuals alone and not of the organisations they may be associated with)