An Obvious Reason for Growing Employer Regard for Online Education
Posted on December 30, 2008 by Barbara Macaulay
Much has been written since the inception of contemporary online higher education about whether or not employers would rate credits, certificates and degrees earned online at the same level as learning achievements gained traditionally on campus. I had a few “mutually informative” discussions with employers early in my tenure with UMassOnline—we all learned something. Mostly employers tended to distrust the types of institutions that give online degrees, but as they saw more mainstream institutions get into the online learning business, their concerns seemed to abate. And now the verdict seems to be in from employers: degrees from reputable institutions, whether gained online or on campus, are valued. Degrees from disreputable institutions, whether earned online or on campus, are not valued.
Clearly, improvements in online learning technology and higher education’s insistence that the rigor of courses must be as high online as in class, have contributed to this belief among employers that applicants with online credentials from reputable institutions are qualified. But another factor is in play as well—namely, the rate at which corporate organizations are turning to online learning themselves. To use distance learning is, to coin a phrase, to love distance learning. In support of this comes this recent article from the unlikely source WorldGolf.com under this headline: PGA of America announces Certified Professional Program graduates.
Does this sentence taken from the news story sound familiar?
The online distance learning approach ensures broad access to the program, while reducing the time and travel costs associated with traditional classes.
By the way, if you are interested in a golfing industry management career (golf, they say, is a $76 billion industry) and since we don’t exactly offer the online or on campus equivalent here of the PGA of America’ offering, here’s a summary of their curriculum:
The PGA Certified Professional Program is an online, career-enhancing educational curriculum that supports PGA Professionals who are committed to continuously enhancing their golf management skills in order to stay ahead of the increasing demands of the industry. Since the program’s inception in August 2004, 464 PGA Professionals have earned a total of 837 certifications in related career paths, including General Management, Golf Operations, Instruction, Retail, Executive Management and Ownership/Leasing.
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[…] my search this morning I did see a very good article about the difference between online and traditional degrees and how they are viewed by employers. Another post calling for some of the more prestigious […]
I find it weird that people still argue about the value of online education. With a reliable examination system, we absolutely have all means of maintaining high quality of education and can ensure the proper level of knowledge of graduates from online schools.
I for one, find it weird that people still argue about the value of online education. With a reliable examination system, we absolutely have all means of maintaining high quality of education and can ensure the proper level of knowledge of graduates from online schools. This is a tragedy.