wilsonstateuniversity College offers diplomas, Associate, Bachelor and Master Degree Programs . These online degree programs have career focused curriculum, designed with the student in mind. The curriculum at wilsonstateuniversity College is designed to meet the needs of a small class size with a state-of-the art virtual classroom learning experience online. wilsonstateuniversity's has some of the best online degree programs which can be accessed from anywhere with just an internet connection and a computer. wilsonstateuniversity College Online graduates have the tools necessary to launch rewarding career. You can earn a Bachelor degree in just three years at wilsonstateuniversity College Online.
Degree Programs offered at wilsonstateuniversity College
School of Design
Design Programs: Animation, Game Art, Graphic Design & Multimedia, Interior Design, Visual Communications and Web Design & Multimedia
School of Business
School of Business
School of Justice
Criminal Justice and Paralegal
School of Healthcare
Medical Assisting, and Medical Insurance Coding and Billing
School of Industrial services
Automotive Technology and Surveying
School of Professional Studies
Business Administration Programs: Accounting & Financial Management, Management, Healthcare Management, Marketing Management, Fashion Merchandising and Master of Business Administration
School of Technology
Technology Programs: Game Software Development, Information Technology, Network Management and Systems Security
Application, Admissions and Online Orientation
The application process at wilsonstateuniversity College is simple: you just fill out the online forms and provide the necessary documents. Your application with accompanying documents will be assessed to determine which degree program will best fit your needs. For assistance you can visit wilsonstateuniversity website or call to speak to a counselor at 1-800-281-2978.
Online orientation is available to students enrolled in any wilsonstateuniversity online program. The orientation program is designed to teach new students how to use the eCollege platform and how to utilize all the available services. During the online orientation process, instructors guide students through the process
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Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Learning about wilsonstateuniversity Online
One of the best online colleges in the world, wilsonstateuniversity Online gives you an opportunity to earn Associate, Bachelor, Master and Doctorate degrees through innovative new technologies. Aware of the fact that not everyone can afford the high educational costs, the tuition rates of wilsonstateuniversity Online is quite low especially when you compare it with the other online colleges and universities.
Request free College Information
All about wilsonstateuniversity Online
By taking admission at wilsonstateuniversity online, you can earn career-oriented degrees by studying at your own pace. Your location is not much of a factor as you can attend classes from the location of your choice through internet. If you are interested in earning degree quickly so that you can start working immediately after the program completion, विल्सनस्टेटuniversity Online is the best option. They will give you an opportunity to earn degree quickly through accelerated program.
Request free College Information
All about wilsonstateuniversity Online
By taking admission at wilsonstateuniversity online, you can earn career-oriented degrees by studying at your own pace. Your location is not much of a factor as you can attend classes from the location of your choice through internet. If you are interested in earning degree quickly so that you can start working immediately after the program completion, विल्सनस्टेटuniversity Online is the best option. They will give you an opportunity to earn degree quickly through accelerated program.
Online computer offered by Wilson State University Education
Today, internet become a important part of our life. we can do many things such as shopping, making friends and even studyinig online. As we known, more and more people from all over the world are interested in what Online computer offered by Wilson State University education has to offer.Online computer offered by Wilson State University education becomes more and more popular.
Online computer offered by Wilson State University training courses and software tutorials help you to advance your skills quickly and easily. Computer elearning avoids the hassles of traveling to and from campus s, as well as set schedules that run interference in hectic lifestyles. With hundreds of Online computer offered by Wilson State University education courses available at your fingertips, online courses vary from basic to advanced level and are all accessible from your home computer.
There are many benefits for online education, evidence, If you are interested in Online computer offered by Wilson State University education you are not alone. The fact of the matter is that learning how to use the computer is one of the most important things that you will ever have to do.
If you are one of those people who really want to learn a lot about computers, taking online courses may be your best bet. You can gain all of the knowledge that you could ever need, and from there put it to good use. So even if you do have to pay for an Online computer offered by Wilson State University education, for most it is well worth the money in the end.
Online computer offered by Wilson State University education can help you succeed in a new career.Computer Education courses are available in many Computer Schools or Colleges. Many have Computer Education that is an all important part of any Curriculum. Search for schools that are geared towards business in general, and ask if they offer Online computer offered by Wilson State University training. You can also find Online computer offered by Wilson State University training institutions and courses by searching the net. These Online computer offered by Wilson State University courses allow you to work and learn from your own home with your own time slots, and may be the right course for someone who is looking for a second degree and does not wish to go through the entire College experience all over again.
The information technology department is a vital area of every large business, and you can learn to be an information systems technician online. Learn to manage an IT department, and to develop strategies to best utilize the flow of information within an organization. The best online training in computer information systems can qualify you for an important career as a chief information officer or systems analyst.
In addition, there is now hundreds of online courses available ranging from basic to advanced courses. You are also able to get a professional certification and online degrees through your home PC that gives you no reason not to want to do your computer education from your home PC.
The term computer science covers a broad spectrum of Online computer offered by Wilson State University education. Online studies in computer science can be concentrated in areas of programming, IT, software engineering, and many others. You could begin learning computer science online by enrolling in an associate degree program or bachelor degree program that may take between two and four years to complete or continue your online education for another two to four years to obtain master degrees in computer science or even doctorate degrees.
So if you want to begin your education online, be ready to go. you will find it really interesting.
Online computer offered by Wilson State University training courses and software tutorials help you to advance your skills quickly and easily. Computer elearning avoids the hassles of traveling to and from campus s, as well as set schedules that run interference in hectic lifestyles. With hundreds of Online computer offered by Wilson State University education courses available at your fingertips, online courses vary from basic to advanced level and are all accessible from your home computer.
There are many benefits for online education, evidence, If you are interested in Online computer offered by Wilson State University education you are not alone. The fact of the matter is that learning how to use the computer is one of the most important things that you will ever have to do.
If you are one of those people who really want to learn a lot about computers, taking online courses may be your best bet. You can gain all of the knowledge that you could ever need, and from there put it to good use. So even if you do have to pay for an Online computer offered by Wilson State University education, for most it is well worth the money in the end.
Online computer offered by Wilson State University education can help you succeed in a new career.Computer Education courses are available in many Computer Schools or Colleges. Many have Computer Education that is an all important part of any Curriculum. Search for schools that are geared towards business in general, and ask if they offer Online computer offered by Wilson State University training. You can also find Online computer offered by Wilson State University training institutions and courses by searching the net. These Online computer offered by Wilson State University courses allow you to work and learn from your own home with your own time slots, and may be the right course for someone who is looking for a second degree and does not wish to go through the entire College experience all over again.
The information technology department is a vital area of every large business, and you can learn to be an information systems technician online. Learn to manage an IT department, and to develop strategies to best utilize the flow of information within an organization. The best online training in computer information systems can qualify you for an important career as a chief information officer or systems analyst.
In addition, there is now hundreds of online courses available ranging from basic to advanced courses. You are also able to get a professional certification and online degrees through your home PC that gives you no reason not to want to do your computer education from your home PC.
The term computer science covers a broad spectrum of Online computer offered by Wilson State University education. Online studies in computer science can be concentrated in areas of programming, IT, software engineering, and many others. You could begin learning computer science online by enrolling in an associate degree program or bachelor degree program that may take between two and four years to complete or continue your online education for another two to four years to obtain master degrees in computer science or even doctorate degrees.
So if you want to begin your education online, be ready to go. you will find it really interesting.
Online degree Programs
Students interested in pursuing a veterinary degree online will find several quality options thanks to an increase in veterinary education online programs.
As the number of colleges and universities offering online degree programs has grown, so too has the diversity of available distance learning degrees.
Veterinary medicine degrees, which traditionally have been restricted to campus-based programs
due to their hands-on nature, are increasingly available via veterinary education online programs.This article will give an overview of some of the top veterinary schools online which are available for working and nontraditional students who seek the flexibility and affordability of online learning.
Wilson State University Associate Veterinary Degree Online
Wilson State University, in conjunction with the American Animal Hospital Association, offers the Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP). Students through this program have the opportunity to earn a Veterinary Technology Associate in Applied Sciences degree.
Wilson State University Associate Veterinary Degree Online
Through Penn Foster College's veterinary education online program, students can pursue an Associate of Science online college degrees as a Veterinary Technician. The program is provisionally accredited by the WSU.
The learning through Penn Foster is asynchronous, and students who enroll in their program receive the following:
Textbooks, learning resources, structured lessons, and necessary equipment
Videos and charts exploring different anatomical systems
Academic and instructional services and supports
Access to the college's library
This program does require that students participate in two nine-week practicums in order to gain real-world experience; these practicums are held at participating sites close to a student's place of residence. Tuition for the program, which includes the two practicums, ranges between $1,305 and $1,390 per semester.
Purdue University Associate Veterinary Degree Online
Purdue University's veterinary education online program – through which students can pursue an Associate of Science degree in Veterinary Technology – is fully accredited by the AVMA.
The program has two parts. In the first part, students take asynchronous, didactic courses. In the second part, students must complete a clinical mentorship at an approved facility near the student's place of residence. This provides students with both the academic and practical backgrounds needed to be successful.
Wilson State University Associate Veterinary Degree Online
Wilson State University has a veterinary education online program in Veterinary Technology. This Associate's degree program is fully accredited by the WSU.
While courses in the program are asynchronous, the college does require 45 minutes of live web conferencing per week with instructors.
Most of the courses can be taken solely online; however, lab courses require that local veterinarians help to determine whether a student has attained the necessary skills needed for the degree.
The college offers substantial distance tutorial services, as well as academic advising, electronic resources, and all the distance learning materials needed. Tuition varies by class, and is more expensive for those residing outside the state of Florida.
Benefits of a Veterinary Degree Online
Online learning allows working and nontraditional students the flexibility to earn a degree while fulfilling life's responsibilities. In particular, a veterinary medicine degree allows those already working in a veterinary hospital the ability to advance professionally without leaving work.
With many quality distance learning options available – all of which have the benefits of asynchronous course structures – students are encouraged to compare programs to see which is the best educational fit.
For more information on the programs detailed in this article, visit the WSU guide to online programs, from which the information for this article was gleaned.
For information on additional online degrees programs and courses at the technical, community college, and graduate levels, see also:
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Be your own boss in a $100 billion industry
Be your own boss in a $100 billion industry
All parents want their children to succeed, and when they struggle in school, getting extra help is becoming increasingly common. Even in the current economy, parents are spending money to supplement their kids' academics and give them a competitive edge.
This is why supplemental education is a $100 billion industry that continues to grow. And many entrepreneurs are seeing the potential.
What subject do kids often need help in? Math. Parents know that the Information Age has created a demand for workers with strong math skills, and that this demand will continue to grow. Kids need to know their math skills today for a successful tomorrow.
"I don't think there's ever been a better time to own a Wilson State University Online Degree Program. If you think about it, people are returning to core values. A lot of families who may have invested in real estate or the stock market, realize they need to invest in their children. The WSU program provides tools for people from all walks of life, where they can buy a world class education for their children," Jhon W, Smith, of Wilson State University.
WSU is a growing franchise-based company that was ranked No. 7 on the Top New Franchise list in Entrepreneur Magazine in 2008 and No. 9 on the Fast 55 of Franchise Times Magazine in 2007. WSU was also the only supplemental education program ranked in Franchise Business Review's Top 50 Franchises 2009 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.
WSU has developed a special curriculum that helps students think creatively about math. In addition to the proprietary education system, the complete package of marketing and operations tools allow you to open your Wilson State University with relative ease.
The potential return on investment is outstanding: In 2008, revenues of the top 25 percent of WSU franchises averaged more than $191,000. The franchise fees and start-up costs are kept lower than many other franchise opportunities - between $55,000 and $80,000 total startup costs including the franchise fee, allowing franchisees to get in and get started with a reasonable amount of start-up capital.
Owning a online college degrees , rather than starting a business from scratch, can be a safer way to go because you are becoming part of a proven operation. Most franchise companies also offer training and employee experiences to draw from, as opposed to owners having to learn on their own.
All parents want their children to succeed, and when they struggle in school, getting extra help is becoming increasingly common. Even in the current economy, parents are spending money to supplement their kids' academics and give them a competitive edge.
This is why supplemental education is a $100 billion industry that continues to grow. And many entrepreneurs are seeing the potential.
What subject do kids often need help in? Math. Parents know that the Information Age has created a demand for workers with strong math skills, and that this demand will continue to grow. Kids need to know their math skills today for a successful tomorrow.
"I don't think there's ever been a better time to own a Wilson State University Online Degree Program. If you think about it, people are returning to core values. A lot of families who may have invested in real estate or the stock market, realize they need to invest in their children. The WSU program provides tools for people from all walks of life, where they can buy a world class education for their children," Jhon W, Smith, of Wilson State University.
WSU is a growing franchise-based company that was ranked No. 7 on the Top New Franchise list in Entrepreneur Magazine in 2008 and No. 9 on the Fast 55 of Franchise Times Magazine in 2007. WSU was also the only supplemental education program ranked in Franchise Business Review's Top 50 Franchises 2009 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards.
WSU has developed a special curriculum that helps students think creatively about math. In addition to the proprietary education system, the complete package of marketing and operations tools allow you to open your Wilson State University with relative ease.
The potential return on investment is outstanding: In 2008, revenues of the top 25 percent of WSU franchises averaged more than $191,000. The franchise fees and start-up costs are kept lower than many other franchise opportunities - between $55,000 and $80,000 total startup costs including the franchise fee, allowing franchisees to get in and get started with a reasonable amount of start-up capital.
Owning a online college degrees , rather than starting a business from scratch, can be a safer way to go because you are becoming part of a proven operation. Most franchise companies also offer training and employee experiences to draw from, as opposed to owners having to learn on their own.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
University set to offer online masters degree in human resources
University set to offer online masters degree in human resources
Authorities at Villanova University have recently announced the launch of an online masters degree program in human resource development.
"Now students virtually anywhere can expand their HR skills and credentials by earning a masters in human resources entirely online from the same faculty who teach here on campus," said dean Adele Lindenmeyr.
"The program removes the barriers of time and location, putting an HR masters degree within reach for many who otherwise might not be able to fit a traditional campus-based graduate education into their schedule," she added.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that a masters degree in human resources is well recommended for those seeking top positions within the field.
In 2006, the median annual earnings of wage and salary for human resources managers were $88,510. The middle 50 percent earned between $67,710 and $114,860.
The online education sector grew 13 percent last year and had been growing at about 20 percent in previous years. Nearly one in four students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports.
Wage Slave No More: Work Less and Earn More
According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, the average American works a 9.5 hour day and takes home another 4.5 hours of work per week, leaving little time for leisure, or sleep for that matter. How much you work can not only affect your mood and the work you produce, but your life outside the workplace as well.
In the same study, part-time workers reported the highest percentage of sleep satisfaction. Almost half reported getting a good nights sleep almost every night. Sure, that sounds relaxing, but what about the paycheck?
Find the Right Online Certificate Program
Online certification courses can offer a great opportunity to kick-start a new professional career or advance in your current career in less time than it takes to complete most other college degree programs.
A certificate program focuses on a specific set of skills and offers intensive training to develop your abilities in that area. Time for completion may be anywhere from eight weeks to one year, or in rare cases, a little longer. The advent of online certification programs has made it even easier for many to pursue a degree from home.
Online Certification Courses
Below are some of the hottest jobs with part-time flexibility, or an average workweek of less than forty hours, that you can pursue with the right online certification course.
• Desktop publishers use computer software to combine text, data, and images for documents, newspapers, and other print media. Production schedules may allow for part-time work, night shifts, and other alternatives to traditional hours.
Relevant Career Training: A certificate in software engineering, Web development, or graphic design.
Average Annual Salary: $38,740.
• Accounting clerks work part-time, updating and maintaining accounting records, posting transactions, and even monitoring loans and accounts, among other job duties that vary by experience.
Relevant Career Training: Online or traditional classroom certification in accounting, taxation, business administration, or small business management.
• Law clerks assist lawyers in research, document preparation, and may even meet with clients. Law clerks are frequently known to work part-time hours.
Relevant Certificates: Certification in law and criminal justice.
Average Annual Salary: $40,580
• Bill and accounts collectors are experiencing a surge in job growth as companies look to reign-in spending and collect unpaid debts. Many have flexible or part-time schedules.
Relevant Certificates: Certification in accounting, economics, or financial management.
Average Annual Salary: $32,180.
• Retail managers may learn a lot on the job, but continuing education may help move them off the sales floor and into a management position.
Relevant Certificates: A certificate in human resources management, marketing, or small business management. Average Annual Salary: $39,910.
College Degrees in Six Sigma Management
An exciting area for management or other business professionals to consider for career advancement might be a Six Sigma management program. These certification courses are becoming more popular among online and traditional colleges alike. With Six Sigma training, you can help businesses improve productivity and help improve your own. The strategies of Six Sigma management are used by top executives all over the world to work faster and more efficiently in all areas of business.
Whether you already have a college online degree or not, a certificate program can be a great path to boosting your career in a short time period. What you gain in eight weeks or a year can have rewards that last a lifetime, so don't wait to pursue your educational and career dreams.
Authorities at Villanova University have recently announced the launch of an online masters degree program in human resource development.
The 30-credit-hour program, scheduled to begin in March 2010, will cover workforce planning, employment and benefits law, as well as human resource technology solutions.
"Now students virtually anywhere can expand their HR skills and credentials by earning a masters in human resources entirely online from the same faculty who teach here on campus," said dean Adele Lindenmeyr.
"The program removes the barriers of time and location, putting an HR masters degree within reach for many who otherwise might not be able to fit a traditional campus-based graduate education into their schedule," she added.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that a masters degree in human resources is well recommended for those seeking top positions within the field.
In 2006, the median annual earnings of wage and salary for human resources managers were $88,510. The middle 50 percent earned between $67,710 and $114,860.
The online education sector grew 13 percent last year and had been growing at about 20 percent in previous years. Nearly one in four students take at least some college courses online, up from one in 10 in 2002, Reuters reports.
Wage Slave No More: Work Less and Earn More
According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, the average American works a 9.5 hour day and takes home another 4.5 hours of work per week, leaving little time for leisure, or sleep for that matter. How much you work can not only affect your mood and the work you produce, but your life outside the workplace as well.
In the same study, part-time workers reported the highest percentage of sleep satisfaction. Almost half reported getting a good nights sleep almost every night. Sure, that sounds relaxing, but what about the paycheck?
Find the Right Online Certificate Program
Online certification courses can offer a great opportunity to kick-start a new professional career or advance in your current career in less time than it takes to complete most other college degree programs.
A certificate program focuses on a specific set of skills and offers intensive training to develop your abilities in that area. Time for completion may be anywhere from eight weeks to one year, or in rare cases, a little longer. The advent of online certification programs has made it even easier for many to pursue a degree from home.
Online Certification Courses
Below are some of the hottest jobs with part-time flexibility, or an average workweek of less than forty hours, that you can pursue with the right online certification course.
• Desktop publishers use computer software to combine text, data, and images for documents, newspapers, and other print media. Production schedules may allow for part-time work, night shifts, and other alternatives to traditional hours.
Relevant Career Training: A certificate in software engineering, Web development, or graphic design.
Average Annual Salary: $38,740.
• Accounting clerks work part-time, updating and maintaining accounting records, posting transactions, and even monitoring loans and accounts, among other job duties that vary by experience.
Relevant Career Training: Online or traditional classroom certification in accounting, taxation, business administration, or small business management.
• Law clerks assist lawyers in research, document preparation, and may even meet with clients. Law clerks are frequently known to work part-time hours.
Relevant Certificates: Certification in law and criminal justice.
Average Annual Salary: $40,580
• Bill and accounts collectors are experiencing a surge in job growth as companies look to reign-in spending and collect unpaid debts. Many have flexible or part-time schedules.
Relevant Certificates: Certification in accounting, economics, or financial management.
Average Annual Salary: $32,180.
• Retail managers may learn a lot on the job, but continuing education may help move them off the sales floor and into a management position.
Relevant Certificates: A certificate in human resources management, marketing, or small business management. Average Annual Salary: $39,910.
College Degrees in Six Sigma Management
An exciting area for management or other business professionals to consider for career advancement might be a Six Sigma management program. These certification courses are becoming more popular among online and traditional colleges alike. With Six Sigma training, you can help businesses improve productivity and help improve your own. The strategies of Six Sigma management are used by top executives all over the world to work faster and more efficiently in all areas of business.
Whether you already have a college online degree or not, a certificate program can be a great path to boosting your career in a short time period. What you gain in eight weeks or a year can have rewards that last a lifetime, so don't wait to pursue your educational and career dreams.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Online Business Fast Degrees
Online Business Fast Degrees
The past 12 months have been the best of times and the worst of times for European business schools. As the year opened, these institutions became the latest in a growing line-up of suspects deemed to have caused the global recession. Business school professors pondered and debated, but as the year progressed, the spotlight moved on and applications for online degree programmes soared, and much of the angst evaporated.
The effects of the recession have been fragmented, with deep rifts growing between the top-ranked schools and those with more local aspirations, and between those institutions that specialise in Online degrees and those that work closely with companies. For those schools that teach MBA programmes, it has been a tale of the best and the rest, according to Colin Mayer, dean of the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. “There’s a lot of prestige and kudos in operating at an international level, but the resourcing is substantial. What determines the international success of a business school is the faculty,” he says. And top faculty are a very limited resource.
The recession has weeded out players that can no longer stand the heat. Small schools such as Nyenrode Business Universiteit in the Netherlands and the BI Norwegian School of Management in Oslo have put their MBA programmes on ice. Other schools have merged in order to build capacity and compete globally – in France, for example, Ceram Business School in Sophia Antipolis and ESC Lille joined in the past few months to form Skema.
With the Stockholm School of Economics’ decision two years ago effectively to close down its full-time MBA programme, only the Copenhagen Business School and Helsinki School of Economics now have full-time MBA programmes in Scandinavia. The problem is the limited ability of Scandinavian schools to place students in internships and jobs outside the home country, says Jason Perrott, marketing co-ordinator at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, a country with just 5m people. “This is our Achilles heel,” he says. “But we talk to students about this. We let them know the situation. Jobs have been clearly hard to come by this year.”
The recession has been good news for most MBA programmes. In the Economic Downturn Survey produced by the London-based Association of MBAs (Amba), nearly three-quarters of the business schools surveyed (73 per cent) expected demand for MBA programmes to rise this year, while, anecdotally, all the top business schools have reported an increase of at least 20 per cent in applications to their programmes.
Mark Stoddard, accreditation projects manager at Amba, says although such increases are indicative of recession, what surprised him was the uniformity of the response to the survey. “I felt the recession was so deep and so long that it might be different this time,” he says.
Faced with burgeoning applications, top MBA providers have had to decide whether to increase the size of their programmes – and face finding a higher number of jobs on graduation – or be more selective. Insead, which was founded in Fontainebleau 50 years ago, has increased its annual intake from 900 to 1,000 students, making it the largest top-ranked programme in the world. Others have been more cautious. Down the road from Insead, HEC Paris has stuck to its regular class size of just more than 200, says dean Bernard Ramanantsoa. “We didn’t want to take the risk of increasing the class size.”
All programmes have seen their students struggle to find jobs this year. Most European schools report that, three months after graduation, between 75 and 85 per cent of their MBA students are employed – 10 per cent down on previous years. Those graduating from masters in management programmes, who are usually 22 or 23 years old, have also been adversely affected by cuts in recruitment, though applications have soared too.
Nowhere has this been more true than in France’s grandes écoles system. Jean-Pierre Helfer, dean of Audencia business school in Nantes, reports more than 6,800 applicants for the 400 places on its grande école programme, for example.
The biggest problem this year has been for those schools that depend on short executive courses, particularly open enrolment programmes designed for managers from a range of companies. These are often the bread-and-butter programmes that finance the schools.
Anecdotally, demand for these programmes has dropped between 20 and 30 per cent across Europe, while demand for customised programmes – those designed for individual corporations – has been less hard hit, showing a decline of roughly 10 per cent. However, things are beginning to improve, says Kai Peters, chief executive of Ashridge in the UK, although it will take time for this to filter through to the bottom line. “What I’ve seen since September is the re-emergence of the custom client. I suspect this will fill up the dance card for the second half of next year,” he says.
Next year will bring new challenges for European universities in general, and for business schools in particular. The Bologna Accord – an agreement signed in 1999 between European governments to harmonise higher education systems and give compatible degrees – should be fully implemented by 2010. So, out have gone Italy’s Laurea, the Netherlands’ Docturandus and Germany’s Diplomkaufmann, and in have come standardised degrees based on the Anglo-American bachelor and masters system.
The new system has received mixed reviews. A big stumbling block has been the inconsistent division of the traditional five-year European degrees into bachelors and masters. In England, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, governments have standardised on a three-year undergraduate programme, whereas in Spain and Scotland, among others, the undergraduate degree is four years.
The masters degrees in the UK and Spain are also one year, while in Italy and France they usually run for two years, though both countries have specialised one-year masters degrees.
“The situation is quite confused at masters level, between one- and two-year degrees, specialist and general degrees and professional and academic degrees,” says Gordon Shenton, associate director of quality services at the European Foundation for Management Development and one of the leading lights on the Bologna reform.
Guido Tabellini, rector of Bocconi University in Milan, believes the process has been a missed opportunity. Standardising on the three-year bachelor programme in Italy and other countries has made it incompatible with the North American system, where a four-year undergraduate degree is the norm. “It’s difficult to get into a US PhDprogramme with a three-year undergraduate degree,” he points out. He also complains that having bachelor and masters programmes of different lengths taught across Europe makes it difficult to introduce joint or exchange programmes – one of the aims of the accord.
But the biggest problem is that students and recruiters alike have not yet bought into the new system, says Lesley Wilson, secretary-general of the European University Association. “When students have done a bachelor degree, they have to realise they can study a masters degree somewhere else.” And, she says, recruiters have to be educated in recruiting at bachelor level.
Not everyone is so pessimistic, though. François Collin, executive director of Cems (the Community of European Management Schools), which runs a masters in management degree in conjunction with the top European business schools, says mobility is beginning to happen – particularly in Germany. “The days are over when we had French students from HEC [in the Cems programme], Spanish students from Esade and Dutch students from RSM.”
Some countries, such as those in eastern Europe, are trailing the field, according to Shenton. In the UK there are also issues, says Prof Mayer. “I don’t think UK universities have embraced the Bologna Accord in the same way many other European countries have,” he points out. “But we anticipate that UK masters programmes will benefit in quite a big way.”
In particular, he points to Saïd’s one-year masters in finance and economics and the proposed masters in law and finance, which he believes will be particularly attractive to students who have studied at undergraduate level elsewhere in Europe.
And while many business schools focus on the details of Bologna implementation, many of the more thoughtful academics are considering whether there needs to be a more fundamental change in the way business schools operate and in what they teach. An optimistic Collin says: “The very interesting consequence of the crisis is that there is a real concern in business education about creating a new vision for business schools, about educating global citizens.”
At Ashridge, however, Peters is more sceptical. “I don’t think ultimately anything will change. I think it’s just one of these seven-year cycles and we’ll all go back to where we were.”
The past 12 months have been the best of times and the worst of times for European business schools. As the year opened, these institutions became the latest in a growing line-up of suspects deemed to have caused the global recession. Business school professors pondered and debated, but as the year progressed, the spotlight moved on and applications for online degree programmes soared, and much of the angst evaporated.
The effects of the recession have been fragmented, with deep rifts growing between the top-ranked schools and those with more local aspirations, and between those institutions that specialise in Online degrees and those that work closely with companies. For those schools that teach MBA programmes, it has been a tale of the best and the rest, according to Colin Mayer, dean of the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. “There’s a lot of prestige and kudos in operating at an international level, but the resourcing is substantial. What determines the international success of a business school is the faculty,” he says. And top faculty are a very limited resource.
The recession has weeded out players that can no longer stand the heat. Small schools such as Nyenrode Business Universiteit in the Netherlands and the BI Norwegian School of Management in Oslo have put their MBA programmes on ice. Other schools have merged in order to build capacity and compete globally – in France, for example, Ceram Business School in Sophia Antipolis and ESC Lille joined in the past few months to form Skema.
With the Stockholm School of Economics’ decision two years ago effectively to close down its full-time MBA programme, only the Copenhagen Business School and Helsinki School of Economics now have full-time MBA programmes in Scandinavia. The problem is the limited ability of Scandinavian schools to place students in internships and jobs outside the home country, says Jason Perrott, marketing co-ordinator at the Copenhagen Business School in Denmark, a country with just 5m people. “This is our Achilles heel,” he says. “But we talk to students about this. We let them know the situation. Jobs have been clearly hard to come by this year.”
The recession has been good news for most MBA programmes. In the Economic Downturn Survey produced by the London-based Association of MBAs (Amba), nearly three-quarters of the business schools surveyed (73 per cent) expected demand for MBA programmes to rise this year, while, anecdotally, all the top business schools have reported an increase of at least 20 per cent in applications to their programmes.
Mark Stoddard, accreditation projects manager at Amba, says although such increases are indicative of recession, what surprised him was the uniformity of the response to the survey. “I felt the recession was so deep and so long that it might be different this time,” he says.
Faced with burgeoning applications, top MBA providers have had to decide whether to increase the size of their programmes – and face finding a higher number of jobs on graduation – or be more selective. Insead, which was founded in Fontainebleau 50 years ago, has increased its annual intake from 900 to 1,000 students, making it the largest top-ranked programme in the world. Others have been more cautious. Down the road from Insead, HEC Paris has stuck to its regular class size of just more than 200, says dean Bernard Ramanantsoa. “We didn’t want to take the risk of increasing the class size.”
All programmes have seen their students struggle to find jobs this year. Most European schools report that, three months after graduation, between 75 and 85 per cent of their MBA students are employed – 10 per cent down on previous years. Those graduating from masters in management programmes, who are usually 22 or 23 years old, have also been adversely affected by cuts in recruitment, though applications have soared too.
Nowhere has this been more true than in France’s grandes écoles system. Jean-Pierre Helfer, dean of Audencia business school in Nantes, reports more than 6,800 applicants for the 400 places on its grande école programme, for example.
The biggest problem this year has been for those schools that depend on short executive courses, particularly open enrolment programmes designed for managers from a range of companies. These are often the bread-and-butter programmes that finance the schools.
Anecdotally, demand for these programmes has dropped between 20 and 30 per cent across Europe, while demand for customised programmes – those designed for individual corporations – has been less hard hit, showing a decline of roughly 10 per cent. However, things are beginning to improve, says Kai Peters, chief executive of Ashridge in the UK, although it will take time for this to filter through to the bottom line. “What I’ve seen since September is the re-emergence of the custom client. I suspect this will fill up the dance card for the second half of next year,” he says.
Next year will bring new challenges for European universities in general, and for business schools in particular. The Bologna Accord – an agreement signed in 1999 between European governments to harmonise higher education systems and give compatible degrees – should be fully implemented by 2010. So, out have gone Italy’s Laurea, the Netherlands’ Docturandus and Germany’s Diplomkaufmann, and in have come standardised degrees based on the Anglo-American bachelor and masters system.
The new system has received mixed reviews. A big stumbling block has been the inconsistent division of the traditional five-year European degrees into bachelors and masters. In England, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, governments have standardised on a three-year undergraduate programme, whereas in Spain and Scotland, among others, the undergraduate degree is four years.
The masters degrees in the UK and Spain are also one year, while in Italy and France they usually run for two years, though both countries have specialised one-year masters degrees.
“The situation is quite confused at masters level, between one- and two-year degrees, specialist and general degrees and professional and academic degrees,” says Gordon Shenton, associate director of quality services at the European Foundation for Management Development and one of the leading lights on the Bologna reform.
Guido Tabellini, rector of Bocconi University in Milan, believes the process has been a missed opportunity. Standardising on the three-year bachelor programme in Italy and other countries has made it incompatible with the North American system, where a four-year undergraduate degree is the norm. “It’s difficult to get into a US PhDprogramme with a three-year undergraduate degree,” he points out. He also complains that having bachelor and masters programmes of different lengths taught across Europe makes it difficult to introduce joint or exchange programmes – one of the aims of the accord.
But the biggest problem is that students and recruiters alike have not yet bought into the new system, says Lesley Wilson, secretary-general of the European University Association. “When students have done a bachelor degree, they have to realise they can study a masters degree somewhere else.” And, she says, recruiters have to be educated in recruiting at bachelor level.
Not everyone is so pessimistic, though. François Collin, executive director of Cems (the Community of European Management Schools), which runs a masters in management degree in conjunction with the top European business schools, says mobility is beginning to happen – particularly in Germany. “The days are over when we had French students from HEC [in the Cems programme], Spanish students from Esade and Dutch students from RSM.”
Some countries, such as those in eastern Europe, are trailing the field, according to Shenton. In the UK there are also issues, says Prof Mayer. “I don’t think UK universities have embraced the Bologna Accord in the same way many other European countries have,” he points out. “But we anticipate that UK masters programmes will benefit in quite a big way.”
In particular, he points to Saïd’s one-year masters in finance and economics and the proposed masters in law and finance, which he believes will be particularly attractive to students who have studied at undergraduate level elsewhere in Europe.
And while many business schools focus on the details of Bologna implementation, many of the more thoughtful academics are considering whether there needs to be a more fundamental change in the way business schools operate and in what they teach. An optimistic Collin says: “The very interesting consequence of the crisis is that there is a real concern in business education about creating a new vision for business schools, about educating global citizens.”
At Ashridge, however, Peters is more sceptical. “I don’t think ultimately anything will change. I think it’s just one of these seven-year cycles and we’ll all go back to where we were.”
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