Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/302559
52 May/June 2014 BizEd ALMOON D/TH I N KSTOCK technology AS THE COSTS of traditional higher education options continue to rise, new competitors are enter- ing the higher education market with alternatives that promise students quicker, less expensive paths to a business degree. Increasingly, these programs are delivered asynchronously via mobile devices and incorporate adaptive learning technology to customize the learning experience to suit students' individual needs. ■ In January, for example, Brandman University of Irvine, California, announced its partnership with digital educational content provider Flat World Education to offer a competency-based online bachelor's degree in business administra- tion. Targeting adult learners and members of the military, Brandman University operates under the Chapman University system in Orange, California. Offered through Brandman's School of Business and Professional Studies, the BBA allows students "to ben- efit from what they have already mastered," explains Gary Brahm, Brandman's chancellor. In many cases, students can prove competency based on past experi- ence rather than course performance. "Students will take an assessment, and then adaptive software will modify the content so that students will be taught only what they don't know," says Brahm. He adds that this model allows students to earn their undergraduate business degrees in 30 months, on average. Flat World Knowledge will provide digital content and e-books to students through its "mobile-first" learning platform. Because content can be delivered to students entirely via mobile devices, the program costs 65 percent less than many traditional models. Flat World has set its sights on expanding in the mobile education market. "This partnership with Brandman University marks a key step in Flat World's broader vision of personalized learning at scale," says Christopher Etesse, the company's CEO. Brandman's online BBA is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. The program is not associated with AACSB-accredited programs offered through Chapman University's Argyros School of Business and Economics. For information, visit www.brandman.edu/program/ bba-business-administration. ■ In February, the Institute of Logistical Manage- ment (ILM) announced that it would offer what it calls "the most accessible, lowest cost MBA in North America." ILM, which offers a range of distance learning certification and degree programs related to logistics and supply chain management, estimates that its online MBA program will cost only US$3,000. The school adds to that cost savings by providing students access to free digital textbooks. Exams will be proc- tored via webcam. David Lady, provost of ILM, notes that the ILM MBA will open up possibilities for people who cannot afford a traditional business education, especially those in emerging markets. "Our hope is to build an inter- national body of students who can start to establish a network of both information sharing and relation- ships," he says. The more people are able to access low-cost business education, "the better equipped they will be to improve their own quality of life, as well as that of their fellow citizens." To learn more, visit www.ilm.edu/mba. Mobile Degree Options Hit The Market