LBS Exec MBA or Oxford Exec MBA

aghaffar

2 3

Posted Oct 11, 2020 17:08

Dear all,

Hope you and your families are all well.

I'm in a big dilemma (grateful though) about choosing between LBS EMBA (Dubai) and Oxford EMBA.

I am a finance tech background person (in London) who wants to move to Middle East and hence applied for LBS EMBA Dubai however I had planned to take electives in London to expand my network in both countries. My future plan is work on my potential startup idea or work with startup/VCs.

Now so far LBS ticks the boxes but then comes Oxford.

Now Oxford is based in UK and it doesnt give me Dubai option but it has good entrepreneur spirit and also very very strong brand name. My whole family and possibly everyone knows Oxford regardless of the MBA not being that strong. I will miss out on Dubai experience and connections but it's the brand name.

Now I am confused as to which one to choose. Shall I go for a brand name and some entrepreneurship reliant program or shall I go for my original plan of Dubai experience and LBS with good network but lesser brand name known.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Thank you all

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted Oct 11, 2020 18:02

LBS is a much older and more powerful business school than the Saïd school. It is stronger in every field. If you want to work with VCs, and if your start-up idea is in business rather than public policy, then LBS will be a better network. If you just want the Oxford brand name take their online venture finance course for £2000, but then go to LBS for the learning and the network.

LBS is a much older and more powerful business school than the Saïd school. It is stronger in every field. If you want to work with VCs, and if your start-up idea is in business rather than public policy, then LBS will be a better network. If you just want the Oxford brand name take their online venture finance course for £2000, but then go to LBS for the learning and the network. 

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Oct 12, 2020 10:19

LBS is a much older and more powerful business school than the Saïd school. It is stronger in every field. If you want to work with VCs, and if your start-up idea is in business rather than public policy, then LBS will be a better network. If you just want the Oxford brand name take their online venture finance course for £2000, but then go to LBS for the learning and the network.

That sounds like good advice. I recently completed one of Oxford's two month online programmes which was very good and I now have that brand name on my CV/resume but the LBS MBA is likely to be a better boost for you overall.

[quote]LBS is a much older and more powerful business school than the Saïd school. It is stronger in every field. If you want to work with VCs, and if your start-up idea is in business rather than public policy, then LBS will be a better network. If you just want the Oxford brand name take their online venture finance course for £2000, but then go to LBS for the learning and the network.  [/quote] That sounds like good advice. I recently completed one of Oxford's two month online programmes which was very good and I now have that brand name on my CV/resume but the LBS MBA is likely to be a better boost for you overall.

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aghaffar

2 3

Posted Oct 12, 2020 15:09

Thank you guys, I think this is by far the best and most convincing advice I have got and I have rubber stamped LBS.

I will also look into Oxford course in the future if required, does it give you a full 8 weeks student privilege?

Thank you guys, I think this is by far the best and most convincing advice I have got and I have rubber stamped LBS. I will also look into Oxford course in the future if required, does it give you a full 8 weeks student privilege?

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StuartHE

1.200 720

Posted Oct 12, 2020 17:27

You do not become (i.e. matriculate) an Oxford University student by participating in the online courses.

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Oct 12, 2020 18:14

You do not become (i.e. matriculate) an Oxford University student by participating in the online courses.

The only extra student 'benefit' I got from doing my online course with Oxford Said was membership of their various executive education alumni LinkedIn groups.

[Edited by aslamo on Oct 12, 2020]

[quote]You do not become (i.e. matriculate) an Oxford University student by participating in the online courses.  [/quote] The only extra student 'benefit' I got from doing my online course with Oxford Said was membership of their various executive education alumni LinkedIn groups.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Oct 12, 2020 18:57

So you get to network with other people who took the online courses rather than the degree alumni :(

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Inactive User

266 92

Posted Oct 12, 2020 19:54

Only problem with those online certificate programs is that they mess up my searches in Linkedin. The algorithm can't differentiate between "real" grads and those who got a 2-day online certificate course. So a search for Harvard grads for example will result in a large number of "HBS online" or HBX (edx) certificate grads. Also, because of the proliferation of online certificates, the value of masters-level graduate certificates (which are made up of 1/4 to 1/2 of a degree) becomes diluted as employers can't really tell the difference either vs someone who took a one-hour online seminar.

As an employer, I sometimes get irritated when people try to pass off their "MITx" online course as being awarded by MIT itself (it's not - those are awarded by edX). I don't really know what to think about certificates anymore so I always just ignore anything that says certificate (unless it's a professional designation).

Only problem with those online certificate programs is that they mess up my searches in Linkedin.  The algorithm can't differentiate between "real" grads and those who got a 2-day online certificate course.   So a search for Harvard grads for example will result in a large number of "HBS online" or HBX (edx) certificate grads.   Also, because of the proliferation of online certificates, the value of masters-level graduate certificates (which are made up of 1/4 to 1/2 of a degree) becomes diluted as employers can't really tell the difference either vs someone who took a one-hour online seminar.   As an employer, I sometimes get irritated when people try to pass off their "MITx" online course as being awarded by MIT itself (it's not - those are awarded by edX).  I don't really know what to think about certificates anymore so I always just ignore anything that says certificate (unless it's a professional designation).

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Oct 12, 2020 21:25

So you get to network with other people who took the online courses rather than the degree alumni :(

True Duncan, but that is part of the reason you pay £63,000 for the privilege of an Oxford MBA versus £2,000 - £2,500 for one of their online courses. In my case, I already have a large network but the Oxford online course enabled me to broaden it a lot geographically. It was a very good course for my needs.

[quote]So you get to network with other people who took the online courses rather than the degree alumni :( [/quote] True Duncan, but that is part of the reason you pay £63,000 for the privilege of an Oxford MBA versus £2,000 - £2,500 for one of their online courses. In my case, I already have a large network but the Oxford online course enabled me to broaden it a lot geographically. It was a very good course for my needs.

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aslamo

720 219

Posted Oct 12, 2020 21:29

Only problem with those online certificate programs is that they mess up my searches in Linkedin. The algorithm can't differentiate between "real" grads and those who got a 2-day online certificate course. So a search for Harvard grads for example will result in a large number of "HBS online" or HBX (edx) certificate grads. Also, because of the proliferation of online certificates, the value of masters-level graduate certificates (which are made up of 1/4 to 1/2 of a degree) becomes diluted as employers can't really tell the difference either vs someone who took a one-hour online seminar.

As an employer, I sometimes get irritated when people try to pass off their "MITx" online course as being awarded by MIT itself (it's not - those are awarded by edX). I don't really know what to think about certificates anymore so I always just ignore anything that says certificate (unless it's a professional designation).

Good observation. Hopefully at some point a way might be found to properly differentiate between the different educational attainment levels that everyone can easily understand.

What do you think of the EdX Micromasters courses that carry academic credit (typically 25%) towards a full Masters degree?

[quote]Only problem with those online certificate programs is that they mess up my searches in Linkedin.  The algorithm can't differentiate between "real" grads and those who got a 2-day online certificate course.   So a search for Harvard grads for example will result in a large number of "HBS online" or HBX (edx) certificate grads.   Also, because of the proliferation of online certificates, the value of masters-level graduate certificates (which are made up of 1/4 to 1/2 of a degree) becomes diluted as employers can't really tell the difference either vs someone who took a one-hour online seminar.   As an employer, I sometimes get irritated when people try to pass off their "MITx" online course as being awarded by MIT itself (it's not - those are awarded by edX).  I don't really know what to think about certificates anymore so I always just ignore anything that says certificate (unless it's a professional designation).    [/quote] Good observation. Hopefully at some point a way might be found to properly differentiate between the different educational attainment levels that everyone can easily understand.  What do you think of the EdX Micromasters courses that carry academic credit (typically 25%) towards a full Masters degree?

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Inactive User

266 92

Posted Oct 12, 2020 21:56

What do you think of the EdX Micromasters courses that carry academic credit (typically 25%) towards a full Masters degree?

I believe their value lies on the end-qualification (the masters degree, if/once you've earned it). As a stand-alone qualification though, see my earlier comments on the dilution of certificates. Everyone and their mother now has some Ivy-league certificate of one form or the other. I even see some people on Linkedin celebrating their one-day/two-hour online certificate from Harvard as some sort of career milestone.

[quote] What do you think of the EdX Micromasters courses that carry academic credit (typically 25%) towards a full Masters degree? [/quote] I believe their value lies on the end-qualification (the masters degree, if/once you've earned it).  As a stand-alone qualification though, see my earlier comments on the dilution of certificates.  Everyone and their mother now has some Ivy-league certificate of one form or the other.  I even see some people on Linkedin celebrating their one-day/two-hour online certificate from Harvard as some sort of career milestone.

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aghaffar

2 3

Posted Oct 12, 2020 23:04

It's true that you cant replace the 70k course with 2k but I think if the course, like this one for 8 weeks add value then it's great but I wouldn't go for Oxford name over LBS just for the name.

I am going with LBS and credit to you guys. I might do the Oxford course one day if I think I really need it, it is exciting and not long committment but at the moment, LBS is ideal.

It's true that you cant replace the 70k course with 2k but I think if the course, like this one for 8 weeks add value then it's great but I wouldn't go for Oxford name over LBS just for the name. I am going with LBS and credit to you guys. I might do the Oxford course one day if I think I really need it, it is exciting and not long committment but at the moment, LBS is ideal.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Oct 12, 2020 23:27

Employers are not searching for MBAs in LinkedIn. It doesn't confuse them at all. It helps them to filter out people who use an MIT MOOC to claim they are MIT alumni.

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Inactive User

266 92

Posted Oct 13, 2020 00:41

Employers are not searching for MBAs in LinkedIn.

I disagree. LinkedIn is not just a networking site, but is used for actively recruiting candidates. If you don't use Linkedin as an employer, I say you are behind the curve.

[quote]Employers are not searching for MBAs in LinkedIn. [/quote] I disagree.  LinkedIn is not just a networking site, but is used for actively recruiting candidates.  If you don't use Linkedin as an employer, I say you are behind the curve.

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Duncan

14.013 15.475

Posted Oct 13, 2020 02:20

Employers use LinkedIn. Major recruiters of MBAs, when looking for MBA talent, don't do so by using LinkedIn in ways that would turn up non-MBAs with Harvard online certificates.

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