Hello Everyone,

Wish you happy new year!
I’m new to this forum.
First, kudos to all active members, who are guiding & providing lot of information here!
Hope I’ll also find some useful feedback to my queries.

Brief on me,
Family background - I’m Indian, 40 year old, 2 kids, one of them is just 1 year old. Located in North - middle Germany.
Educational Background – Diploma & Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Completed in India.
Professional background – Total 17 years of Experience in design & development in automotive interior field.
Last 7 years working with German Tier1 company as Engineering manager. Recently additionally looking after startup subsidiary in India as a director.

Goal,
To upgrade knowledge & skills, to get more management overview, to get ready with competitive field in order to prepare myself for the next role & related next job opportunities.

Would like to stick to Automotive/engineering field, leadership, innovation & not much interested in courses offering detail about finance & accounting.
Due to hectic work schedule & family with small kid, looking for not much extensive, less travel oriented, nearby BS.

Queries,
1. Will the distance learning MBA help to achieve my goal stated above? Is it advisable to do to MBA at this stage of career?
2. Which are the best, value adding distance learning MBA BS in Germany, Offers courses in English, Flexible & Less tuition fees? If no options in Germany then rest Europe can be considered.
3. Just came across Master of Business Administration and Engineering program at HTW Berlin but unfortunately it is full time. Anybody knows any other program like this with any other BS available for DL.
4. Point 3, if not available then which program will be suitable/helpful for my further path?

Thanks & Regards in advance!

I don't think you want a European MBA. The MBA here is a degree in general management. Take a look at mastersportal.com to find an MSc that better meets your needs.

Thanks a lot for your response Duncan!

I’m a fresh Director & would like to also acquire expertise related to leadership, organizational management, global business, innovation etc.
Are you sure MSc will be better option?

Appreciate your valuable inputs!

Yeah, it sounds like you feel that you want to avoid the quantitative, decision-science core of an MBA. So, I think that would be an MA in leadership, innovation, organisation etc. Some examples might be:
- Ashridge https://www.hult.edu/en/executive-education/programs/apprenticeships/executive-masters-leadership-management/
- Queensland https://www.edx.org/masters/online-master-in-leadership-service-innovation-university-of-queensland
York: https://online.york.ac.uk/study-online/msc-innovation-leadership-and-management-online/
-


I don't that will help you to meet a senior management goal, because you can't manage without accounting, economics, finance etc.

Dear Duncan,

First thanks a lot for responding. Your response is important & helping me to think about all the possibilities around.

I completely agree with your comment - without finance/accounting, it’s impossible to meet senior management goal.
Sorry for my part of not communicating clearly. I mean not very extensive emphasis on finance/accounting.

Is there good value for Distance Learning Msc in Germany? Which are recognized good DL schools in Germany?
I heard Msc is free here in Germany, is it true & which are those schools?

Thanks…..

MastersPortal.com is a great site for research on costs and modes. You can't find a good, free, online master's in business.

You'd be exposed to leadership, organizational management and innovation in an MBA as well.

I think it's worth focusing on your goals and determining whether it would be worth the investment to pursue an actual degree. Not to knock non-MBA business master's programs, but, I'm not sure how far they'd help you along the path to finding new business opportunities, at this stage in your career.

Perhaps focusing on your career, taking free online classes in the subjects you are interested in, and investing your money into networking, in order to track down business opportunities, would be a better way of approaching this. Just something to think about.

Dear MBA Hipster,

Thanks for your response.
Yes, correct.

You understand my situation & dilemma.

At this stage of my career, I have specific technical experience but need knowledge & more overview on global business, organizational mgt, leadership etc. to be in line with my new role.
As you suggested somehow can be acquired up to certain extent through online courses, self-reading, etc. but also there is need to have master certificate in front in your CV to be competitive, climb the ladder of hierarchy & to be considered along with/ahead of other candidates to grab the next opportunities.

Regards

Certificates vary. Depending on the industry, many German firms are not familiar with the MBA or view it as part of an Anglo-Saxon management model which is alien. A German iHK or FH qualification might be more accepted. Second and third tier international schools won't be well known. The examples I gave would impress fewer people than a Harvard Extension School certificate or an LSE diploma for graduates.

Where are you? Are there no part time options available?

Dear Duncan,

Your point is valid.
Acquired certificate must be recognized in Germany & in addition must add value globally.

I’m living middle of nowhere, small town in north Rhine Westphalia.
Before I came across this forum First thing, I did -> I Searched for part time programs nearby.
However, they are bit extensive & need to attend classes on regular basis, which is bit difficult with my current family situation & travel.
Which lead me to search more for distance learning programs nearby with in Germany.

Just came across one, something like this will be helpful?
https://www.wb-university.com/program/mba-in-engineering-management/
Please have a look & let me know your views…

Regards

[Edited by SB on Jan 29, 2020]

I am not familiar with that school.

Take a look at https://find-mba.com/board/distance-learning/value-alternatives-to-unaccredited-mbas-58288

Thanks for your response; I will look in to your post in detail.

Anybody else know about Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences & this particular program mentioned by me above?
I don’t know in detail about the accreditations but they have mentioned Hessen, ZEvA, ACQUIN on their website.

Regards