The Useless Part-Time MBA

Nowadays, people are consistently struggling in the competitive race of acquiring the best of salary packages at MNCs for which an MBA degree has become a widely chosen mode of acquisition. Looking at the past few years, you would see the legacy of MBA graduates enjoying the privilege of being a valuable resource in the dynamic changing business environment. Earlier, qualifying MBA programs was considered a tough job to do for it is the advanced study of business relations and management. But in these past 10-15 years, the scenario has changed quite well for the budding business schools have sprouted in almost every corner of the city, state or country simplifying the process of obtaining an MBA degree.

Thus, the aspiring candidates are readily pursuing part-time MBAs even from not so good universities across the country. On being asked about the choice of part-time MBA from a barely known open university, the customary belief is addressed that pursuing your studies through part-time courses or regular campus-based learning programs hardly make any difference. All that matters is the surplus of knowledge and experience a person possess to get employed at a reputed firm. The belief is applicable in many scenarios but absolutely not when it comes to the professional courses such as MBA or B.tech.

A part-time MBA degree may be called good for nothing! We did the content analysis of the replies people made in response to the many blog posts on “Should I do A Part-time or Full-time MBA in India?” published on the social media platforms. It has been found that people are choosing MBA ( both part time and full time) programs for all wrong reasons. Below is the example of such replies,

Source: https://redbus2us.com/5-advantages-of-doing-mba-full-time-vs-part-time-mba-experience-in-usa/

Only to get a satisfactory job in a 4×4 cubicle in any corporate office, people are ready to shift their profession, expertise, and career even if the part-time courses cost higher than 15 lacs- they just need the promising MBA degree.

But how soon would they realize that the distance MBA course has only provided them with the stamped paper called an MBA degree?

There is a great inclination amongst working individuals to opt for part-time/distance MBA course for their career advancement. But as a matter of fact, part-time students only acquire little practical knowledge. Moreover, reputed institutions have started making use of the part-time courses as their money-making platform. They may levy heavy course fees for such degree program, and the students are left with nothing but only bookish knowledge. Hence, the degree certificate just seems like an ornament but happens to be of no use.

Why is Part-time MBA a no-go-way?

• No Vital Experience Gained: The reason why MBA graduates are preferred for the employment is that they are coached to understand the nuances of professional life in a corporate sector. Unlike a traditional full-time course, the scope of understanding the professionalism required of the companies is lesser. The students pursuing part-time courses are denied the internships that are offered in full-time MBA course to prepare the candidates for jobs.

• No Personality Developed and Technical Skills Inculcated: The part-time courses are developed bearing in mind the working professionals as the applying candidates. No personality development and professional skills are groomed at the universities offering distance learning MBA courses due to the lack of time for events and conferences for the authorities as well as the working students.

• No On-campus Learning: A part-time MBA degree doesn’t involve the practical knowledge of business operations and managerial skill development. Hence, no regular lectures, tutorials, and other sessions are organised by the universities for making their students gain real time experience and not only the bookish knowledge through study materials.

• No Campus Recruitment: While campus drives are organised by the various universities offering MBA courses through distance-learning, lesser are the chances that you would be landed up to a good job. Refer to the above points for knowing the reason why good companies are reluctant to hire part-time MBA graduates.
• No Networking: The full-time MBA course allows you to participate in the events, conferences, and sessions in as well as outside university campus. So, you would be interacting with the job-seeks, freshers, and the seniors which help you in establishing the valuable networks for future professional relations.
• No Competition: Because you are less acquainted with your peers during the part-time course, you would not know what they are doing for earning the degree. Unlike MBA full-time programs, you don’t witness any competition or race to score more or to become a good leader. The motivation is a good driving force for anyone who is wishing to build a promising career which you would hardly find if doing a part-time MBA.
• No Time Management: It may sound exceptionally pleasing that there are no deadlines, and tight schedules while pursuing a part-time degree. But it is equally disappointing to realize that such flexibility has taught you nothing but only the art of delaying the tasks. You’ve become weaker when it comes to managing time and handling the tasks which is a remarkable quality of a deserving MBA graduate.

So, if you are up to go for Part-time MBA, you may need to think twice as the job market has become fragile in all these years. Only those MBA graduates are hired who possess perfect set of qualities and skills for the benefit of the entire organisation.