What Do Employers Think Of Your Online Degree?
There’s a persistent myth that employers view online degrees as somehow inferior to ‘real’ ones, or that online study isn’t as rigorous as face-to-face learning.
This myth has been around for a while, particularly in the world of commerce, and like most myths, it doesn’t hold up to close scrutiny.
As more and more Australians jump into remote learning – more than 300,000 Australian students are currently studying online, and the industry is currently valued at around $8 billion – the stigma around online degrees is starting to fade.
It’s a little like online dating: it’s becoming increasingly hard to find graduates who haven’t completed at least some modules online, and the same goes for recruiters and senior management.
Remote learning isn’t the exception anymore – it’s becoming the rule. And, as this new generation of learners heads into the workplace, we’re slowly gathering data around career prospects and employer sentiment. And the news is very encouraging.
Data has shown for a while that the learning outcomes for online versus face-to-face learning are about the same (in fact, online might have a slight edge in some areas).
In its own analysis, the US Department of Education found that “students in online conditions performed modestly better, on average, than those learning the same material through traditional face-to-face instruction”.
As more and more students come on board, the overall quality of online education has also begun to increase.
“Schools got better at the delivery models and hiring managers, particularly in the technology industries, became much more comfortable with it,” Nicole Cox, chief recruitment officer at Decision Toolbox, a national American recruitment firm, told U.S. News & World Report.
But what about employers and HR personnel? Well, the news is good there, too. In a 2018 workplace survey, 61 per cent of HR leaders firmly believed that online learning was as good as (if not better than) traditional, bricks-and-mortar education.
Seventy-one per cent of organisations said they’d hired an online graduate in the last 12 months, and 52 per cent believed that, in the future, most advanced degrees would be done entirely online.
This tallies with RMIT’s own research. In the 2021 Future of Learning report, the university asked professionals in Australia, the UK and America what they really thought about online learning.
Most respondents agreed that online learning could match face-to-face degrees in quality (only 21 per cent of professionals in Australia disagreed with that sentiment), and the perceived benefits were widespread: flexible learning, improved self-esteem, better access to education and more targeted, future-ready skills.
In fact, 41 per cent of Australians believe that online learning helps support the pace of technological change.
This is something RMIT has always focused on, particularly with its new Bachelor of Business degree.
To make online learning more relevant in the post-COVID world, RMIT Online has partnered up with industry leaders like Amazon Web Services, Adobe, Australian Red Cross and Medibank to offer practical, hands-on learning – not just lectures and exams.
“We know that technology is redefining the Australian workforce and the skills needed to remain competitive,” said Iain Rouse, country director for Australia and New Zealand at Amazon Web Services (AWS).
“AWS is committed to providing training that provided students and current workers with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in the future workplace, and we’re proud to partner with RMIT Online to improve students’ overall employability.”
Practical learning is great for employers – they want tech-savvy graduates who can hit the ground running – but there are other factors to consider, too.
Some studies have indicated that where your online degree comes from is basically how employers calculate its worth: the reputation of the university, the overall quality of the graduates, and the accreditation of the particular course are all important factors.
Bricks-and-mortar institutions that offer remote learning are also seen as more trustworthy than those who specialise entirely in online education.
In other words, not all online courses are created equal. Students need to do their research, analyse credentials and (if possible) chat to industry professionals beforehand, to find out which courses and institutions are rated most highly.
The key takeaway is that the stigma around online learning is more or less gone. Recruiters, industry leaders, HR professionals, tech start-ups, CEOs – no one makes a distinction anymore between face-to-face learning and doing things online.
At the end of the day, employers don’t really care how you learned, so much as what you learned. And what you’re going to do with it.
Want to stay up to date with the latest trends and tech in business? Check out RMIT Online’s Bachelor of Business and apply now HERE.
Featured image source: iStock/monsitj
Please login with linkedin to comment
online degree online education online learning online university RMIT RMIT OnlineLatest News
The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]
‘It’s The Lesser Of Two Evils’ – NRL Eyes US Betting Market As Aussie Regulators Circle
US betting firms will be delighted by the circa 50,000 Americans who could soon watch the NRL on their favourite app.
A-League In Deep Discussions With New Partner To Keep Games On TV After Production Company Enters Administration
The A-League's insatiable appetite for scoring own goals continues.
TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]
Is The Australian Music Industry In Trouble? Inquiry Launched Following Splendour Cancellation
Earlier this week, an inquiry was launched into the challenges and opportunities currently facing the Australian live music industry in the wake of multiple festival cancellations. On 25 March 2024, the Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, asked the Committee on Communications and the Arts to inquire into and report on the […]
Liana Dubois, Leandro Perez, Aimee Buchanan & More Gather For Inaugural Compadres Leadership Event
Didn't get the invite? Perhaps you're not as important as you thought.
Cathay Captures The Unforgettable Thrill Of Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, Via Publicis
Nobody does rugby like Hong Kong, apparently. Certainly nobody does it as badly as Australia.
Cocogun Nabs Christine Watts, Kirsty Reynolds & Shev Tan Bolstering Management & Creative Teams
Cocogun bolsters its team with new hires. Committed to purchasing a bigger sofa, too.
The Media Store’s Jacquie Alley & Sam Cousins Take The Plunge With Pro-Bono Work For Cure Cancer
B&T chats with The Media Store bosses about their great pro-bono work and sponsored swim.
Hawke’s Brewing Co. Taps Rocket Comms For PR Agency Following Competitive Pitch
We're expecting Rocket Comms productivity to crash in spectacular fashion following this win.
Spotlight On Sponsors: Patties Serves Up A Taste Of Home For Olympians & South Sydney Rabbitohs Recommit To Gambling Reform
While the Rabbitohs commits to gambling reform, B&T reckons the team should commit to a decent auto sponsor.
Google: “Inevitable” That Bad Actors Will Abuse Ads Platform As Advertiser Account Suspensions Double
Google maintains it's simply impossible for it to entirely stop bad people placing & paying for ads using its service.
Quantcast Expands APAC Sales Team With Appointment Of News Corp Account Manager
No pressure at all when you are appointed as a client success manager.
Publicis Sapient Tests Microsoft-Powered Gen AI Search Tool With Homes & Villas By Marriott Bonvoy
Given Gen AI's record for mangling stuff, B&T cannot see the problem with letting it decide your next holiday digs.
Volkswagen & DDB Group’s “Roo Badge” To Reduce Kangaroo Related Road Collisions
Watch out for RooBadge as Cannes Lions' most debated campaign this year.
Twilio Launches Unified Profiles & Agent Copilot Features To Boost Productivity & Engagement
Agent Copilot sounds like James Bond's less interesting cousin.
Reebok & Honda Among New Clients For onetwo agency
OneTwo finally lives up to its name with this double billing.
Ogilvy Report: Throw Out The Social Strategy Rule Book, The Rules Of The Past No Longer Apply
B&T was puzzled that all 'influencers' aren't, effectively, 'virtual', but here we are.
WhiteGREY & AKQA Merge In Australia, Lee Simpson Departs
Fortunately, the combined agencies aren't opting for a trite portmanteau for the new name.
Splendour In The Grass 2024 Music Festival Cancelled!
Music fans all over the country reportedly relieved they can pack away their rain coats and gumboots for another year.
TV Ratings (26/03/2024): “Fairy Bread, F***ing Disgusting”: Gordon Ramsay Slams Aussie Food In Food Stars Launch
Ramsay not one for mincing his words, even when it comes to minced meat pies.
Paramount+ International Boss Doubles Down On Aussie Content, Says Ad-Tier will Grow Audiences And Revenue
Good news as Paramount will not be binning I’m A Celebrity for re-runs of Frasier.
Brent Smart: Telstra Pushing For 50-50 Brand-Performance Split But Warns Numbers ‘Won’t Look Great’ Initially
The old brand vs performance debate continues. But here, Brent is firmly sitting on the fence.
Crowded House, Tones And I & Dom Dolla Win Big At The Shure Rolling Stone Music Awards
B&T staffer reports back with humdinger of a hangover & feeling seriously uncool after mixing with music types.
Opinion: Dyslexia “A Hidden Gem” For Brands & Agencies
Dyslexics offer underappreciated benefits in the corporate field, according to this op-ed.
David Jones Taps Criteo To Power Online Retail Media Arm
Want to see ads for things you probably can't afford? David Jones has got you covered with new retail media play.
oOh!media Sets Up Team To Target Business Audiences Across Airports & Offices
oOh! wants brands to harass you every minute of your next business trip.
QMS Launches Australian First DOOH & TV Partnership With Samba TV
Samba TV, of course, is not a channel dedicated to dancing. Much to our dismany.
Slew Of New Hires At Amplify
Four new faces join the Amplify offices. Team say desk scarcity becoming "acute".
Adobe Announces Content Authenticity Initiative Expansions To Counter Deep Fakes
Try as they might to enlighten them, we suspect Trump supporters will continue to watch and believe Fox News.
The PR Group Appoints TechCrunch Senior Reporter Catherine Shu As Director Of Content & Media
Catherine Shu makes the bold leap from journalism to PR. Says inevitable pay bump was "unrelated".
HERO Nabs Ebony Santin From AMPR
Rumours Santin cleared out the stationery cupboard before departing are as yet unconfirmed.
Karena Noble Checks Out Of EVT Hotels & Resorts To Launch Comms Consultancy
Noble still managed to squeezed in a continental breakfast before departing.
Canva Acquires Design Platform Affinity To Bring Professional Design Tools To Every Organisation
Canva & Adobe face off continues. We're not picking sides but keenly aware that Canva's office is next door to ours.
“Lean On Our Team To Help You Find An Audience”: Why Understanding Audience Engagement Is Essential In Journalism
Engaging the audience is critical to journos, apparently. We'd thought self-loathing & alcoholism were key.
Adobe Summit: Major Gen AI Developments, Data Concessions & Partnerships
What happens in Vegas stays there. Unless it's the Adobe Summit and then you get to read about in B&T.