[grandcider]

If you already have a marketing degree, doing another one will be pure torture. Unless the degree is very specialized, there isn't much difference between what's taught in Bcomm/BBA and MBA courses. The worst part is that nowadays, these programs are completely dependent on teaching with case study material. It's a win-win proposition for the professors because it spares them from preparing their own material and helps cover up their own lack of experience and industry knowledge. I really think that most business education is a sham.

[beafan]

Originally Posted by grandcider

If you already have a marketing degree, doing another one will be pure torture. Unless the degree is very specialized, there isn't much difference between what's taught in Bcomm/BBA and MBA courses. The worst part is that nowadays, these programs are completely dependent on teaching with case study material. It's a win-win proposition for the professors because it spares them from preparing their own material and helps cover up their own lack of experience and industry knowledge. I really think that most business education is a sham.

i absolutely agree with you. there can never be enough case studies and the business environment is always changing. do you think a masters is the same as shooting urself in the foot? it just seems that half the management level jobs out there prefer more than just a university degree. then again, masters from a HK uni is probably about the same in status as a degree from an english speaking country right?

[grandcider]

In terms of the difficulty of admission, a master's program at HKU/UST/CUHK is probably comparable to a reasonably good public university in the US. Most students are bright and hardworking and the faculty is of a good caliber for the most part. But quite a few local graduates lack the social and communication skills to distinguish themselves in a multinational business environment. There's also often a lack of general curiosity about what they're studying. People pick what to study based on what their parents have told them or what they perceive will lead to the best future career, rather than out of any genuine interest. Thus you have hordes of business and economics students who would never pick up a WSJ or the HK Economic Times and wouldn't know what's going on in any industry aside from what they've read in a case study.

[rani]

Janet,

You can also try some of the Australian Distance learning programs. I did a Masters with Charles Sturt Univeristy. The text books and materials are couriered to you. You submit assignments via email. They have forums, so you chat with other students taking the class and the professors are available via email/phone to answer any questions. I signed up with the local agent first but they manage the program differently. They conduct weekend classes 1x month with Malaysian professors. I didn't enjoy it and then signed up directly with the Uni.

[Janetw]

ThanksRani,
I will look into that one.

[Rmulhall]

Originally Posted by grandcider

RmulHall: What do you expect? HKU Space is basically a community college geared towards locals. The things you complain about are likely to be much worse at the Open University. At least you can earn a degree from a recognizable second-tier university through HKU Space that will be more highly regarded than a degree from OU. The quality of teaching at HKU will be much higher but their part time degree programs are only at the postgraduate level. If someone is living in HK but only interested in doing a first degree part-time, they can't expect to be too fussy about the classroom experience.

Get a grip! I tried HK space as I moved here after the application time at HKU had closed, I had hoped HK Space might be a good alternative but I was wrong and was just passing this info on, it was a year ago so I wasn't just complaining just making sure someone else went into it with all the info possible. Don’t be so judgmental as you don’t have the full information when you reply to these posts.

[hullexile]

Originally Posted by grandcider

The worst part is that nowadays, these programs are completely dependent on teaching with case study material. It's a win-win proposition for the professors because it spares them from preparing their own material and helps cover up their own lack of experience and industry knowledge. I really think that most business education is a sham.

Um, did they teach you anything about critical analysis, generalisation, evidence based arguments, etc on your degree? Yes I am a business professor.

[grandcider]

Originally Posted by hullexile

Um, did they teach you anything about critical analysis, generalisation, evidence based arguments, etc on your degree? Yes I am a business professor.

Do you realize that this is an internet message board, not a peer reviewed journal? Generalizations are a part of everyday informal discussion. I'm just speaking from my experience of having taken a number of business courses where professors assigned one superficial case study after another. They would encourage rambling class discussion, screen videos and schedule individual and group presentations on each of the dated case studies to fill up time. I even saw them walk in on occasion, still clutching an instructor's guide and I often suspected that they had not read the case studies themselves. As I understand, quite a number of business schools rely on this so-called "case method".

[grandcider]

Originally Posted by Rmulhall

Get a grip! I tried HK space as I moved here after the application time at HKU had closed, I had hoped HK Space might be a good alternative but I was wrong and was just passing this info on, it was a year ago so I wasn't just complaining just making sure someone else went into it with all the info possible. Don’t be so judgmental as you don’t have the full information when you reply to these posts.

I don't think I was judgmental...perhaps you are too sensitive. I was just suggesting to the original poster that the "annoyances" you described should be expected if he/she wants to do a part time first degree in HK.

[hullexile]

Originally Posted by grandcider

Do you realize that this is an internet message board, not a peer reviewed journal?

And I think you would expect me to respond to a generalised attack on my colleagues and profession as naturally that also includes criticism of my own professionalism. Yes case studies are widely used but not out of laziness (though there are lazy professors as there are lazy people in any profession). There are sound pedagogical reasons for using this approach in business education, though it should of course not be the only approach used and its effectiveness is dependant on the skills of the professor (and the willingness to participate of the students).

Sorry KIA, know this is not the appropriate place for this discussion. Lecture finished.