The Big Debate: Online Certifications or Graduate Programmes in a Post-Pandemic World?

Future of learning

It’s the big debate in the education world – how will online education impact traditional education? Also, what are the advantages of one over the other.

What’s important to note is that it’s not really about one over the other, but about what works best for a student. Nothing can beat a campus experience, but then not everyone can afford a traditional university education. So, it’s really about filling the gaps and about accessibility. And this is where online programmes have an edge, and are thus being called game changers. There is, of course, also the hybrid model – a mix of both offline and online, which is being seen as a best-of-both-worlds option.

The debate, however, is not new.. Even before the pandemic, the idea that a traditional college education was necessary for the achievement of a fulfilling career was being tested.

As we end 2020, while still living in the pandemic, this debate around online certificate programmes versus graduate degrees has deepened yet again. Should one go for a graduate programme from a prestigious university, or accumulate as much knowledge as possible through online certificates, workshops, Zoom gatherings, YouTube lessons, or certificate courses offered by Coursera, Udemy, and many others?

This article attempts to address some questions around the debate.

First, Google

A few months ago, Google stepped up to disrupt the higher education demand in at least four specific fields. The giant tech company declared that if one is interested in becoming a project manager, a UX designer, a data analyst, or an IT support professional, then one might not need a college degree. The company added three new jobs to its Google Career Certificates at a fraction of the cost and time of an undergraduate degree.

According to the company, such online courses have been specifically designed to give students everything they need to get hired in their chosen fields over a course of six months. These courses have been placed at a nominal price of $49 per month, or around $300 total. Additionally, Google will hand out 100,000 scholarships for those who don’t have enough funding to join the program.

Google’s senior vice president of global affairs, Kent Walker, tweeted that a certificate course would even replace a traditional degree when it comes to Google’s own hiring managers. The tech giant has managed to get 50 other companies to adopt the same policy, including big ones such as Intel, Hulu, Walmart, PNC, H&R Block, and Bank of America.

While this was welcomed by many, it also sparked a debate on the continuing relevance of a traditional degree. If giant dream companies such as Google have openly shown their preference towards online certificate programs, then where does this leave thousands of students who pursue traditional degrees to get their dream jobs in such companies?

Google, of course, isn’t the first company to question the the four-year degree requirement. Apple, IBM, Penguin Random House, and Hilton are few of many that don’t require applicants to be college graduates. There are two divergent views on this – some believe that while Google’s certificates won’t put universities out of business just yet, they will be the latest disruptors in the higher education industry. Others believe that while such certificates might look good on the resume, there is no guarantee that they will provide the edge in getting better opportunities. Question then to ask is – are certificate courses enough?

It’s the ‘new normal’

Google’s courses came at a very critical time when the pandemic forced people to drop out of higher education and also caused millions of job losses. . As a response, work from home, online classes, and up-skilling took over the employment and education scenario.

According to reports, it is estimated that nearly 400 million jobs were lost worldwide due to the pandemic in the second quarter of 2020. In fact, many countries throughout the world are continuing their fight against the unprecedented unemployment rates ever. This has led to a huge number of students dropping out from their universities in order to save themselves from the exorbitant fee.

A post-pandemic pattern is thus emerging – : an increasing number of adult learners are in need of concrete skills, while more and more college students are considering short-term and cost-effective alternatives. Therefore, online courses have emerged as an attractive and a low-risk alternative. Studies have shown that consumer interest in these modes of education has increased significantly post COVID-19. According to Moody’s Investor Services, enrollment in non-degree online courses has seen a very rapid spike in recent months.

Coursera, a pioneer in the online short-course domain, developed the Workforce Recovery segment specifically as part of their overall course portfolio. Other websites like Udemy, Harvard and MIT’s edX, Skillshare, Udacity, etc. have also made many courses free of cost due to an increased number of people enrolling. Reputed universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins are also offering free certification courses to further people’s skill development.

In fact, tech corporations such as Google and Amazon, are creating content for these programs, and it is they who determine the required competencies for students to master. It is clearly evident that the aim of these corporations is to create standardized skill sets that can apply beyond their payrolls, for job seekers across entire occupational fields placed anywhere in the world.

But there’s no replacing the graduate programs

Large organizations like Google and Microsoft are said to receive nearly 2 million applications per year – while those like Goldman Sachs attract people in the thousands.

These organizations, among a growing list of other industry leaders, highlight the importance of soft skills — such as emotional intelligence, resilience, and learnability, as major determinants of performance. These skills cannot be learnt in an online environment, but are usually imbibed as a result of campus-living in graduate programme. Also, the most in-demand jobs continue to require significant graduate credentials.

Despite online learning making inroads in education, the truth is that the number of students enrolling in universities has continued to rise. In the U.S., one-third of adults are college graduates. This figure that was just 4.6% in the 1940s. Globally, it has been reported by UNESCO that the number of students earning a university degree has more than doubled in the last 20 years.

Looking at these numbers, it is easy to understand why more workforce is considering going to graduate school. In the U.S., the number of graduate students has tripled since the 1970s, and reportedly, 27% of the employers now seek a master’s degree for roles in which historically undergraduate degrees were fairly sufficient.

Source: https://www.online.drexel.edu/news/online-degree-vs-traditional-degree.aspx

Career expert and resume writer Wendi Weiner has mentioned, several times, in interviews that certificates like the ones at Google can be beneficial additions for those who already have their bachelor’s degrees. This means that if getting a master’s is too expensive or takes too long, a certificate could be an easy and available substitute. “These certificate programs show a commitment to additional training, increasing knowledge, and refining skills,” Weiner said in an interview. Additionally, Weiner believes that the bottom line for any hiring manager is meeting the needs of the job listing. A Google certificate “could potentially be something that hiring managers are willing to consider — keep in mind, however, that job postings will often state 10-plus years of experience or an advanced degree.”

Similarly, Dandan Zhu, headhunter and CEO of Dandan Global, a career coaching business, says that while a Google certificate can look great on a resume, it doesn’t automatically guarantee a job offer. “Don’t rely on your credentials to carry you,” Zhu said in an interview. “Everybody can have those same credentials, so don’t ever think about it as a selling point. It’s not. It’s a point that you can leverage, but it’s not a selling point.” “It isn’t equivalent to four years in college, but it means that this person has really sharp, immediately applicable skills,” Zhu added.

What do the experts say?

One of the main criticisms of higher education through the years has been that universities find it difficult to equip students with the real-world skills they need in the workplace, and also leaves them in debt for years, as they struggle to pay back student loans. In contrast to that the tech giant, Google, claims that their courses would cost a fraction of a traditional university education and would aim at preparing students to immediately step in high-paying and high-growth career fields and environments.

Even though the opinions about online education remain divided due to various fears ranging from the lack of student-teacher interaction to the technological facilities needed to access it, more and more people have begun appreciating the benefits. Keeping the most obvious ones such as flexibility, comfort, and cost-effectiveness aside, reports have found sociological advantages to this somewhat unconventional mode of learning. Much research has started showing that many minority groups such as women and black people prefer an online education. A research study found that this particular preference has led to a higher underrepresented group enrolment in various professional courses, those like Coursera’s iMBA program. According to the prediction of many experts, the credibility of online certification is expected to grow. According to a survey conducted by Edukatico, organizations were found to view online certification as advantageous and reflective of a committed worker.

However, a lot of contrary data also exists suggesting that moving towards online courses can have its own set of barriers. Talking about universities, this move is expected to cost the higher education sector £1bn. Another barrier could be cultural change. When Times Higher Education surveyed 200 university leaders in 2018, they agreed that online learning could never replace the physical university experience.

Online learning, while it has immense benefits, is not a silver bullet to the problems , thus posed by the pandemic. Allison Littlejohn, director of the UCL Institute of Education’s knowledge lab, cautions that quality online courses take time and effort to create. “It’s crucial the online learning experience is well-designed and we don’t simply shift existing content from one format to another,” she said in an interview.

Equally, for many students, the value of a university goes deeper than just coursework and qualifications and examinations. Research by Universities UK found that almost 60% of students and recent graduates strongly felt that the social element of the campus experience had helped them significantly in broadening their life experience. It helped them become more independent and confident, and develop important soft skills such as teamwork and time management. Not to forget the forming of lifelong friendships borne out of a campus-bonding experience.

Kendrick Oliver, a professor at the University of Southampton, agrees. Oliver believes that nothing can replace the classroom experience – being physically together in a space means rich communication, and more energy and experimentation from everyone involved. But he acknowledges that habit and routine are powerful. Therefore, months of online working might make digital more of a default. The trick with online courses, then, is to look for accredited, university-affiliated courses that are relevant to the field you plan to or already specialize in.

It’s not one versus the other

As one delves deeper into the idea of a graduate degree versus an online certificate programme, it seems clear that there can’t be a ‘versus’ in there. Experts are still of the opinion that certificate programmes can’t fully undo graduate programs. The learning one gets by going to a college will always remain unique and it will definitely help in adding skills to a student’s profile and their personality that is responsible for getting them enriched life experience and jobs.

But there are several benefits to online learning: it can widen access to education to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to go. This is already happening in the US, where online education is more established, especially among lower-income students. It was reported that a few months back, Southern New Hampshire University, one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, announced that it has used online learning to enable it to slash its tuition fees by 61%.

While a graduate programme will shape an overall life experience of a student, an online certificate looks like the best alternative given lack of resources and time. Through the study one thing stands out very clear: each isn’t a substitute for the other. Each can be leveraged for their benefits and strengths.

Date added

08.12.2020

Filed under:

Future of learning

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A printed version of these Terms of Use and of any notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to these Terms of Use to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form. You and TC Global agree that any cause of action arising out of or related to the Service must commence within one (1) year after the cause of action arose; otherwise, such cause of action is permanently barred.

Terms of Use and all other policies available on this Service shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms of Use and/ or other policies available on this App, including any question regarding its existence, validity or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre ("SIAC") in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre ("SIAC Rules") for the time being in force, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference in this clause. The Tribunal shall consist of 3 arbitrators. The seat and venue of Arbitration shall be Singapore and the language of proceedings shall be English. Subject to the foregoing, the Courts of Singapore shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes relating to the subject matter, herein.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a dispute arises with respect to the validity, scope, enforceability, inventorship, ownership, infringement, breach or unauthorised use of any patent, trademark, copyright or other intellectual property right or any non-proprietary data owned and/or controlled by TC Global, whether or not arising from the Terms of Use, such dispute (at the option of TC Global) shall not be submitted to arbitration and instead, TC Global shall be free to initiate litigation, including but not limited to a claim for interim injunctive relief, in a court of competent jurisdiction, in any country or other jurisdiction in which such rights apply.

Integration and Severability

These Terms of Use are the entire agreement between you and TC Global with respect to the Service and use of the Site, Service, Content or User Submissions, and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals (whether oral, written or electronic) between you and TC Global with respect to the Site. If any provision of these Terms of Use is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms of Use will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. The failure of either party to exercise in any respect any right provided for herein shall not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder. Waiver of compliance in any particular instance does not mean that we will waive compliance in the future. In order for any waiver of compliance with these Terms of Use to be binding, TC Global must provide you with written notice of such waiver through one of its authorized representatives.

Modification of Terms of Use

TC Global reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to modify or replace any of these Terms of Use, or change, suspend, or discontinue the Service (including without limitation, the availability of any feature, database, or content) at any time by posting a notice on the Site or by sending you notice through the Service or via email. TC Global may also impose limits on certain features and services or restrict your access to parts or all of the Service without notice or liability. It is your responsibility to check these Terms of Use periodically for changes. Your continued use of the Service following the posting of any changes to these Terms of Use constitutes acceptance of those changes. You shall also be notified of any modifications to these Terms of Use as and when effected or at least once a year.

Other Provisions

Claims of Copyright or Trademark Infringement

Claims of copyright or trademark infringement should be sent to TC Global's designated agent. If you believe that someone is infringing your copyright or trademark rights on the Site, you can report it to us by contacting our designated agent at hello@thechoprasglobal.com with a report containing the following information:

your complete contact information (name, mailing address and phone number),
a detailed description of the Content that you claim infringes your copyright or trademark along with details on how it infringes upon your copyright or trademark,
the web address (URL) of the infringing content,
a declaration that you are filing this report in good faith and that all the information provided is accurate and that you are the owner of the copyright and/or trademark in question.

Please attach your digital signature or physical signature to the report.

Within 36 hours of receiving this notice with the above mentioned details, we will take down the allegedly infringing material from public view while we assess the issues identified in your notice.

On completion of the take-down procedure above:

If the complainant is successful in obtaining an order of injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction within 21 days from filing the complaint, the material will be permanently removed from TC Global's Site and database upon TC Global being provided with a copy of such order;
If the complainant is not successful in obtaining an order of injunction from a court of competent jurisdiction within 21 days from receiving notice from the complainant, the material will be made available for public view once again.

Before you submit a report of infringement, you may want to send a message to the person who posted the Content. You may be able to resolve the issue without contacting TC Global. Please remember, only the copyright/trademark owner or their authorized representative may file a report of infringement. If you believe something on the Site infringes someone else's copyright/trademark, you may want to let the rights owner know.

Notice

TC Global may give notice by means of a general notice on the Site / Service, notification within the mobile application on your account, electronic mail to your email address in your account, or by written communication sent to your address as set forth in your account. You may give notice to TC Global by written communication to TC Global's email address at hello@tcglobal.com or physical address at No. 3, Shenton Way, #10-05/06, Shenton House, Singapore, 068805.

General

You may not assign or transfer these Terms of Use in whole or in part without TC Global's prior written approval. You hereby give your approval to TC Global for it to assign or transfer these Terms in whole or in part, including to: (i) a subsidiary or affiliate; (ii) an acquirer of TC Global's equity, business or assets; or (iii) a successor by merger. No joint venture, partnership, employment or agency relationship exists between you, TC Global or any Third Party Provider as a result of the contract between you and TC Global or use of the Services.

If any provision of these Terms is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, under any law, such provision or part thereof shall to that extent be deemed not to form part of these Terms but the legality, validity and enforceability of the other provisions in these Terms shall not be affected. In that event, the parties shall replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or part thereof with a provision or part thereof that is legal, valid and enforceable and that has, to the greatest extent possible, a similar effect as the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or part thereof, given the contents and purpose of these Terms. These Terms constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to its subject matter and replaces and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements or undertakings regarding such subject matter. In these Terms, the words "including" and "include" mean "including, but not limited to."

Miscellaneous

TC Global shall not be liable for any failure to perform its obligations hereunder where such failure results from any cause beyond TC Global's reasonable control, including, without limitation, mechanical, electronic or communications failure or degradation (including "line-noise" interference). These Terms of Use are personal to you, and are not assignable, transferable or sublicensable by you except with TC Global's prior written consent. TC Global may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights and obligations hereunder without consent. No agency, partnership, joint venture, or employment relationship is created as a result of these Terms of Use and neither party has any authority of any kind to bind the other in any respect.

Unless otherwise specified in these Term of Use, all notices under these Terms of Use will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when received, if personally delivered or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; when receipt is electronically confirmed, if transmitted by facsimile or e-mail; or the day after it is sent, if sent for next day delivery by recognized overnight delivery service.

Contact

You may contact us at the following address:

The Chopras Global Holdings PTE Ltd
No. 3, Shenton Way, #10-05/06, Shenton House, Singapore, 068805
Our grievance / nodal officer may be contacted at:
Zishan Siddiqui
Grievance Officer
The Chopras Global Holdings PTE Ltd
No. 3 Shenton Way
#10-05/06, Shenton House
Singapore, 068805
Email: zishans@thechoprasglobal.com

The Big Debate: Online Certifications or Graduate Programmes in a Post-Pandemic World?

First, Google

But there’s no replacing the graduate programs

What do the experts say?

It’s not one versus the other

Date added

08.12.2020

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