Back to skool?
I've spent a fair bit of time this year on what can only be called career planning. After toying around with the idea for a few months I have finally decided that I'd like to start an MBA. It would be great to be able to take a year out and study somewhere full time but that just wouldn't be practical right now. That leaves distance or part time learning as the only viable option even if it will take three times as long to complete and may be considered by some to be an inferior qualification.
For various reasons I'm not looking to start until next year which is handy as I've yet to decide exactly which Business School would suit me best. There is also the decision as to whether I should go for a general management flavour of MBA or something more technology focused. Currently there are two MBA courses that are interesting me.
Henley Business School (http://www.henley.reading.ac.uk/management/mba/mgmt-flexiblelearningmba.aspx)
and
Open University (http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/qualification/f61.htm#courses)
Perhaps it's my MK roots or a nostalgia for early morning TV on BBC2 (and those regulation 70's shirts that all OU lecturers seemingly had to wear) but the flexibility of the OU option is currently making it the more serious contender for me right now. In fact I like the idea that the first year module could lead to a Professional Diploma in Management, if I chose not to study any further, or continue to the MBA, MBA (Technology) or MSc in Strategic management of Information Systems. Even better, I don't have to make that decision right now.
I've still got a lot of research to do on this before I get as far as applying anywhere so in the meantime I'm trying to get back into the swing of learning and exams by picking up some professional qualifications. If nothing else this will help round out my CV in areas that I felt it was a little weak and stand me in good stead regardless of what happens with the MBA. It will certainly keep me busy.
Looks like I'm blogging again too...
