As colleges and universities are reopening their campuses in stages beginning from March 2021, students can choose to either study on campus or browse online degree courses in Malaysia. If you are more inclined to online degree courses, here are some aspects to consider.
Is an Online Degree Right for You?
Benefits of an Online Degree:
1. Flexible Learning
Education is a commitment that requires much time and effort. Among the benefits of an online degree is to provide more flexibility in the pace of learning. Online degrees help working students to opt for a slower study pace to ensure their work performances are not compromised. They can either enrol for a full-time or part-time online degree course depending on their work schedules. Here at INTI, we offer part-time online degree courses such as Bachelor of Business (Hons) — Learning Simplified and Master of Business Administration (MBA) — Learning Simplified for working professionals in Malaysia as well as outside the country.
2. Individualised Learning
Traditionally, learning has been centred on the educator while teaching a group of students in a physical classroom. With the integration of technology into education, individualised learning is being promoted using innovative methodologies and is guiding educators toward a student-centred education system. For students who prefer fully online learning, it is convenient for them to arrange a one-to-one session with their tutors to go through the lecture materials and assignments in-depth. This is different from making an appointment in person, where both educators and students may have less time to discuss together due to time and meeting room availability on campus. In other words, online learning platforms enable students to have longer discussions with their tutors to get the most out of the course programme.
3. Suitable for the Physically-Challenged
Online degrees truly reflect the needs of society. While we hear about global students benefiting from online degrees offered outside their countries, virtual learning also extends to senior citizens and the disabled community. It takes the pressure off from having to commute and they are able to learn comfortably at home. It is also convenient for family members and caretakers to be right next to them to provide assistance to the learner.
Disadvantages of an Online Degree:
1. Lack of Face-to-Face Interactions
Even though online learning is now a major part of the education industry, pursuing an online degree may not be suitable for everyone. Some students are comfortable with asynchronous communication, where learners respond at their convenience. On the other hand, there are also students who prefer direct, real-time exchanges with each other. In this case, this group of students may learn better on campus. They can engage in lively, in-person classroom dialogues as compared to computer-mediated discussions.
2. Technical Issues
Weak Wi-Fi signals, software issues and computer hardware problems — these are the common technical issues faced by educators and students before or during an online lesson. The process of troubleshooting delays online classes, which may result in longer classes. Furthermore, not all educators are tech-savvy. Students may find their education experience to be less than ideal if their instructors are not familiar with the digital tools and virtual learning platforms to carry out a lesson effectively.
Having mentioned the pros and cons of an online degree, we hope that these points will help you choose an education pathway that meets your learning and career goals. If you are currently working but also keen on pursuing a tertiary education, INTI International University & Colleges have several part time online degree courses for working professionals in Malaysia and overseas that allows studying at a more relaxed pace. For more information, click here.