A new DL MBA from Imperial College of the University of London will be started from September this year. The related link is http://www.ms.ic.ac.uk/programmes/index.htm The Imperial College is ranked as the third, after Cambridge and Oxford, by Financial Times 2001 ( http://specials.ft.com/universities2001/FT3HLLAN6LC.html ) This is the second DL MBA from the University of London, another one is from Royal Holloway.
I think that it is offered through UoL external programme division, but I can not find that programme in the website of the UoL external programmes ( http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk )
According to the programme Web site, the instruction is from Imperial College. "The course is offered in partnership by two departments of Imperial College, the Management School which provides academic leadership and teaching, and Imperial College Wye (formerly Wye College) which provides the special expertise in distance learning design and delivery that is so crucial to a satisfying and successful learning experience. A third partner, of course, is the University of London External System which maintains and operates a world-wide set of examination centres. Together, we are able to offer a most attractive and reassuring combination of expertise in management education and distance learning." However, as to the degree itself... "Like our other MBA courses, the Distance Learning Programme leads to the award of the MBA degree of the University of London, carrying in this case the 'external' designation, and is fully equivalent in standing."
Problems with the Imperial DL MBA? I'm a little surprised that Imperial College is having this MBA degree marked "external", since other UK MBA programs do not, and can clearly use that "It's the same degree!" to their great marketing advantage....anyone have any opinions/knowledge as to why they are doing this? Second, this new DL MBA is not accredited by AACSB, AMBA, or EQUIS yet, correct? The content/structure looks attractive, but the accreditation issue is a real one
Re: Problems with the Imperial DL MBA? It's unfortunate that diploma mill operators have messed things up so terribly that even a degree from the University of London needs to be "accredited." While I understand the need for accreditation in certain instances, at some point in time there has to be a limit to the incessant "it needs to be accredited" mantra. How McCarthyesque is this need for accreditation going to become? I know that degree mill operators need to be stopped, but in the process, how many "honest" operators are going to be put out of business because of the bureaucracy and cost of the accreditation process, or how many people with GAAP type degrees will not get jobs because of the lack of the "gold standard" of an accredited degree? Darren.
Hey Darren That is why I am a centralized "Qualifications Authority" man myself. However, In the U.S. (maybe other countries also?) the accreditation mantra will continue as long as employer preference to RA/NA degrees continue and RA colleges refuse (for the most part) to accept unaccredited degrees for credit.
Re: Problems with the Imperial DL MBA? The University of London has offered its "external" degrees since the middle of the last century. People in the Commonwealth, Eurpeon Union and Asian countries know about these "external" degrees and the degrees are well accepted and respected. All UK universities, except one, are government funded. There is no such accreditation (unlike that in the US) in the UK universities and programmes. AMBA is a voluntary body and accreditation process is also voluntary. Imperial College's full-time and part-time MBA are so-called "accredited" by the AMBA. As to DL MBA, it will only be started in September this year. As to AACSB, this is the US accreditation matter rather than the UK one. It is interesting to note that the "accreditation" of the UoL's programme is questionable.
University of London (MBA led by Imperial College) I thought that interested parties may be interested to know that the details for this and several other new degrees are now available on the University of London website. please see http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/news_&_events/news/new_deesdips.shtml for further details. Regards, Brendan
