Korean Job Discussion Forums

[underatram]

I've got a choice between moving to Sweden for 1 year to study a masters at Lund University, or staying in Korea and studying for an online masters from University of London.

I was wondering if you guys had any advice on what would be more valueable for finding a job in Korea. An online masters from a London university or a masters from an English speaking Swedish university?

How do people generally value online masters?

Cheers guys

[chrisblank]

I did mine on-line a number of years back.
Two observances:
The initial impression, when I discuss my studies with other people who have studied for their masters on-site, is that I got a lot out of mine, more so than others. After discussing my degree with a couple of people who were in progress they switched as they thought the on-line was more applicable. Note: a good on-line program is often more work than a regular on-site program. More reading, more work at communicating, etc.

When going for jobs I found that interviewers start off looking down on the degree, but after some discussion they realize, like most people, it isn't so much where or how you get the degree, it is what you do with it after.

I went through a job search a few years ago. Did interviews at 5 uni's, including the Korea Aerospace University and Sookmyung Women’s University. I was offered 5 jobs and was able to choose the best one for me.

[underatram]

Thanks for posting about your experience.

That was one of the main things I was curious about, how employers would view an online masters. But if you were able to justify it to them and show its validity then that is reassuring.

Did you specifically state on your CV that you did you did an online masters, or was it something that was brought up in the interview process.

[PatrickGHBusan]

The value of an online masters depends on where you took it, how well recognized the program is, what institution delivers it....

Note that there is still a stigma attached with online education, sometimes unfairly.

[northway]

[Axiom]

[northway]

[big_fella1]

There are prejudices against online or distance education, that in my view are completely unfounded.

Korea is a country where students attending school will probably pass, whilst a student that does not attend but gets great grades will fail.

I did my masters on campus and I'm doing my doctorate by distance learning. Obviously when I get to the dissertation stage it doesn't matter where I am, but for the coursework I am finding distance a lot more difficult although it is a better preparation for the dissertation phase.

I don't know how long you have to make a decision but if you have time have a look at www.edx.org where there are free online courses provided by world leading universities including Australian National University, MIT, Berkley, Harvard, and many others. Doing one of the courses would be a good way to experience distance learning for free to decide if its for you.

Getting a job with either qualification in Korea will be difficult due to discrimination against distance learning, or having a qualification from a non-English speaking country. But the world is a big place.

Good luck.

[Julius]

[big_fella1]

[12ax7]

[Jimskins]

I think the problem is that because of the global economic crisis , in Korea in the past two or three years there has been an explosion in the number of people with MAs, 99% of which are online. The kind of diligent types with hard-earned but essentially unmarketable degrees who thought "bugger,can't go home now, so better get serious about TEFL." Although I teach at a uni, all my friends teach at public schools and all bar 1 have or are completing online MA TESOLs because they know how bad their prospects are in the UK.

I'm not knocking online degrees, but imagine the hiring board at xxx University. 2007, they have 8 positions to fill and 13 of the candidates have MAs almost all earned onsite(same as usual).Fast foward to 2013, 8 positions again, but this time they have 60 candidates with MAs, 50 of whiich are online.

You can kind of see why there might be a stigma attached to online MAs, again , even if unfairly.

[thebearofbundang]

Usually, people who have done online/distance learning will tell you it is equal to on campus study, while people who haven't, believe it's a lower form of education. This includes employers in my experience. I think generally, online masters are helpful, but to say they are looked at as equal to on-campus masters isn't realistic. I have an online masters, and believe it it has helped me, but I also realize that it doesn't hold as much weight as others who did on-campus study. That's simply the reality of it unfortunately.

[Daryl69]

When my university does hiring, it doesn't matter where or how they have obtained their Masters, online or on-site. It matters if they can also support their candidacy with experience, inter-personal skills, work ethic, and whether they really think about their teaching practice and philosophy.

I think that they whole online vs on-site debate is a little pathetic really, because a good focused student will gain as much or more from an average programme than a poor student from the best programme. It makes no difference whether it is online or on-site.

The main advantage of an on-site programme is that it will be recognized in the wider EFL/ESL market. The majority of Middle Eastern employers for example would not hire a person with an online Masters, regardless of their merit. It is unfair, but that is life.

[ttompatz]

I can also add my personal experience....

Nobody has ever asked whether any components of any of my graduate credentials / degrees (and I hold 3 (MA, MBA, ABD) were on-line or otherwise (they were all on campus).

They (potential employers) have asked about my theses, publications, seminar and workshop presentations ... practical experience/expertise in my fields (I cross over into a couple) and references.

My personal opinion (not that you asked) is that you should choose a a field of study based on YOUR interests (you are working to become an "expert" in that field) and YOUR intended career path rather than getting something then hoping to find a career it might fit into.

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