Much of the spotlight on MBA programs has focused on their ability to enhance earning power, career advancement and job satisfaction.
Relatively less debate addresses the learning and skills associated with the MBA experience.
Increasingly, people in their thirties, forties and beyond find that the world of business and management has changed so dramatically that they must return to being a student in order to prosper in the global knowledge economy.
This is quite a different reason to return for an MBA and derives from a personal need to be more competitive in today's globally-linked managerial and executive labor market.
Successful MBA programs need to be much more closely attuned to the learning demands of their students. The evolution of the Internet and advances in technology have made online education not only an increasingly attractive proposition, but also more dynamic than traditional forms of education. Often, it is better suited to the needs of today's job market and globalized economy.
For example, at U21Global, the average student is in middle to senior management, from one of 55 different countries and regions, and has, on average, seven to 10 years of management experience.
In online study, the diversity and the experiences that it brings to the virtual classroom are an added dimension to the depth of learning that is often not possible in other modes of education.
Online programs also require far more writing than a face-to-face program, as writing is the main medium of communications and examinations.
The broad usage and diversity of online discussion are good for the learning development of all students, but are particularly useful for those who speak English as a second language.
Older students are not the only ones who can benefit from an online MBA program.
U21Global offers a Masters of Management in International Business designed to allow young professionals to start building a career immediately while pursuing a Masters degree.
Online education is no longer considered a fad, but a growing trend in graduate business education.
