Hello everyone,

What would you suggest as the best online MBA programme for a mid-career professional who is eager to learn and is self-funding her/his education?

In my particular case, I am an IT manager with 15 years of professional experience, interested to strengthen my managerial skills acquired from project management trainings & experience and to learn about strategic management.

I believe this discussion could be interesting for many readers of this fantastic forum, who are in the middle of their careers!

At the moment my favourite programme Is Online MBA from Open University. It provides a mix of quality and flexibility it suits me the best. Quality derives from the tripe accreditation, while possibility of studying this programme even up to 7 years gives a big room for manoeuvre regarding my time and fee payments. Now I look for similar alternatives.

I have almost a similar question with interest also in the Open university program 
I am considering also Bradford and Durham universities + master in Management from Aachen Business school in Germany  

I don't think there is one best school. Focus on your goals and see what schools and qualifications are most relevant for your specific career goals. Also, in the case of RWTH Aachen, don't forget that you will need to speak German for an MBA-level job in Germany. 

@Duncan 

Thanks for your response 
Do you think RWTH Acchen worth 30k Euros for Master in Management ?
I mean value to the price

I am looking at 2 Master in Management programs both in Technology management as I am coming from technical IT background and such programs maybe more relevant to my goals  

one program from the open university and the other one from RWTH Aachen and there is a big different in the cost 

What do you think and do you recommend similar programs ?

Thanks

I'm not sure exactly where you are looking for work, but personally I am not very impressed by these for-profit spin-outs from German universities like the Aachen business school. The university's internal business schools is taken more seriously: https://www.wiwi.rwth-aachen.de/cms/Wirtschaftswissenschaften/Studium/Studiengaenge/~ict/Masterstudiengaenge/lidx/1/  

@Duncan

Now I Live and Work in Germany but looking for Master or MBA to help me not only in Germany but anywhere 

my main focus area is product development and I am looking for a program suitable for product manager as I am withing that track 

I was looking at the Open university and Aachen business school as their programs designed for that purpose and both are online and par time 

Most product managers don't have or need MBAs. Only a dozen or so business schools with online MBAs have a truly international reputation: the ones in the FT Online MBA ranking.  Why not aim at something closer to your goals like https://www.edx.org/masters/online-masters-in-product-management-umd 

in the FT ranking for the online schools I can choose 
 Durham or Bradford 
I want to ask also about the open university (either Master or MBA) do you think it has a good reputation ?

The OU is respected in the UK, more or less having a similar reputation to the other UK universities established 50 years ago. It's not an *elite* institution, which Durham and other more selective schools are, but it's a solid, good quality choice.

Thanks a lot 
I checked the 3 programs and i think the OU is more closer to my requirements
however it is not in the top 10 in the FT ranking but i think a triple accredited university with a good program is the one that i should choose 

Do you agree ?


Also if i compared it with Aachen university I see it is : 

-  triple accredited
- better known worldwide 
- cheaper 

do you agree ?

OUBS is certainly better for most people, but my key point on this thread is that you need clearer goals and strategy more than an online masters. 

the goal is to learn Technology strategy and Management
I am working as technology consultant and looking to add the strategy and Management skills to my profile 
I found the Master in technology management in the open university interesting and I can learn more on that direction as I already came from technical background.

Do you think there is other programs, courses or certificates ? London business Schools online courses ?

There are lots of other programmes. I like the Indiana MS: https://www.edx.org/masters/online-master-in-it-management-indiana-university 

If you have the flexibility to work remotely in July one year, the Harvard masters in IT management is excellent, and expensive through the MIT MicroMasters in SCM:
https://extension.harvard.edu/academics/programs/information-management-systems-graduate-program/mitx-micromasters-program-pathway-to-the-information-management-systems-program/

but would require attending evening classed two night a week for a bock of several weeks on campus: https://courses.dce.harvard.edu/?details&srcdb=202203&crn=33285 

@Duncan, would you have similar suggestions for programmes or courses in the domain of financial and investment management?

Yeah, I would suggest the same providers: the EdX MicroMasters in finance from the MIT and the Harvard ALM in finance.

I have the same problem as you, working in IT, and want to learn more about management. But I have an interest in financial management. 

For technology management, I found that course like engineering management is relevant. Their scope is border than management of Information Technology. I found the M.Sc. Engineering Management from the University of Bath and the University of Leeds are very fascinating. It cost around GBP12000 to 14000. 

You may check their website if they are the right program for you.