Choose Online Degree v/s Offline Degree | Compatibility with Regular Degree

It is really important for a candidate to have a clear idea of what to choose and what is better for them to make their career better and more secure. As a developing nation, we do have various options in terms of academic courses and fields of education and modes of pursuing it. The candidates tend to get confused by these options and opportunities. No more worries. We are here to assist you with the information you need to know about the Online and Offline courses that are Online/Distance Education. And how it is better or equal to Regular, Offline, or Tradition courses.

We hope that this blog might help you in deciding the best and ideal college or university for you. And we have made sure to include some advantages and disadvantages of Online/Distance Education in India.

Validity of Online/Distance Learning and is it equal to a Regular Degree?

We all are aware of the fact that there is a certain board of commission that ranks and approves the university and colleges on the basis of their quality education and the courses offered at the university. All the universities and colleges that offer Online/Distance education courses and programs must have the accreditation of the National Ranking Councils in India and they are named UGC (University Grants Commission), AICTE (All India Councils of Technical Education), DEB (Distance Education Bureau), NAAC (National Accreditation and Affirmation Councils), and NIRF (National Institute of Ranking FrameWork). So, these are the most known and recognized Accreditation bodies in India that approve the universities to provide Online/Distance Courses.

The University Grants Commission stated that degrees earned through remote and online learning from accredited schools would be considered equal to those offered through traditional modes of instruction (UGC).

According to the latest declaration of UGC (University Grants Commission), the degrees obtained by any moded of education may be an Online degree, Offline degree, and Regular Degree shall be treated equally. The only cue is whether the university or the college should have the accreditation and affirmation from the National Ranking councils of India to offer Online or Offline courses. The applicants should always check the approval of the university for the courses important for Online/Distance MBA.

The choice was made in accordance with UGC Regulation 22 (Open and Distance Learning Programs and Online Programs).

There are, of course, many distinctions between the two delivery methods of education, such as the fact that you receive no hands-on practical instruction in the online or distance learning setting as everything is virtual.

You may get into instances where an applicant with an offline degree will be given preference over you if you have an online or distance degree. This is because traditional and offline degrees are viewed as being superior, but at the same time, recruiters do not have the authority to exclude you based solely on your online or distance education. According to UGC’s notice, all online and distance degrees offered by organizations approved by DEB and UGC would be treated equally to traditional on-campus degrees.

But these distinctions do not refer to the fact that Online/Distance Education is treated less than Traditional education. If you need to be more clear Online/distance education is preferred more in this industry as it is highly convenient and it gives ease of access to top-notch quality education.

Recruiters don’t care about a candidate’s degree when it comes to the domain- or skill-specific courses like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), cyber security, etc. the firm actually focuses on the knowledge of the applicant, and in the areas of specification. However, the offline courses are limited and not available for a particular specialization.

Even the IITs do not offer any courses on topics like data science, cyber security, AI and machine learning, blockchain, etc. Online courses can be very handy here. Since they exclusively consider applicants based on their skills and knowledge, several prominent firms, including Apple, EY, Google, and others, have made graduation optional for applicants.

This slight distinction between the two learning modalities was introduced to emphasize that degrees earned online or through distance learning are similar to those earned offline.

Other significant variations exist as well. And let us see the differences, Advantages, and disadvantages of Online degree programs in India.

Difference between Online and Offline Modes of education

In this particular section on the differentiation between Online and Offline education, we are about to discuss some differences you need to keep in mind about distance education and Traditional Education. And they are:

1. Delivery of education
2. Flexibility
3. Accessibility
4. Interaction
5. Technical Issues
6. Effectiveness
7. Fee Structure
8. Placements
9. Faculty

1. Delivery Of Education

If the network connection is strong, teachers can make resources available at any time to their students when teaching in online mode. One of the best things about online classes is the variety of resources available for learning, like virtual whiteboards, movies, tools for assignment activities, video conferences, and many more.

In contrast, offline mode enables students to receive real-world, hands-on education while physically present in the classroom with the teacher. Students may participate in live talks, group discussions, and debates, as well as extracurricular activities including drama, music, dance, first aid, and other pursuits. Physical education is another option that benefits both mental and physical wellness.

2. Flexibility

Online learning allows for flexible learning at the student’s own pace. You have access to video lectures and online reading materials in case you missed a class. Additionally, it provides students more time to study and work at their own pace on projects or research. In order to improve in your job, you can also choose from a variety of courses and internships. Learning can only occur during school hours due to the prescribed scheduling.

In the offline mode, the pupils have fewer opportunities to study more and make their own discoveries. There won’t be any recorded lectures or study materials available if the students don’t arrive on time for class.

3. Accessibility

When learning is done online, lectures and resources are accessible to students from all over the world with programs like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Due to the fact that individuals can attend classes from the convenience of their own homes, including from their beds or study tables, they are not required to use public transportation.

Because students must travel to their schools, spending additional fees, offline mode is inadequate in terms of accessibility for education. You can miss important classes if they skip sessions because of unanticipated situations like bad weather or illness. It can be inconvenient to rely on your classmates for essential study materials.

4. Interaction

There are a variety of choices for engagement when learning online, but it all relies on the student’s discipline. Furthermore, if a student is only able to access pre-recorded lectures with no actual interaction between them and the teacher, it may be detrimental to their learning because they will be left with a lot of questions and doubts but no one to provide them with answers. However, if the applications provide live lessons, you can ask your questions whenever and wherever you like.

In offline classes, the interaction between lecturers and students is possible. To study more efficiently, students might take part in discussions and debates. When several subjects are taught at once, it helps pupils clear up their questions and spot their flaws.

5. Technical Issues

For the purposes of taking part in online education, both professors and students need to have access to computers, smartphones, or other devices as well as a reliable internet connection.

A lack of these resources may hinder learning. Furthermore, it will be an issue for both teachers and students if they are unable to use the devices.

The devices are rarely necessary for teaching and learning in offline mode. Because most students don’t have smartphones or internet connections, there are offline classes available for those who do. A poor network connection won’t be a problem because the classes will be held face-to-face. Teachers can instruct students in a traditional manner inside the walls of their classroom without needing to be tech-savvy.

6. Effectiveness

Online education, which focuses primarily on theory, places little to no emphasis on practical knowledge. Because the students are not physically present, it is impossible to conduct practical exams in online mode for a number of disciplines including chemistry and physics. Despite a teacher’s best efforts, if pupils are unable to conduct the experiments themselves, they will either lose interest or be unable to comprehend it very well.

In contrast, students will have access to both theoretical and practical information in offline lectures. By providing references on topics covered in class or at school from a different perspective, practical learning helps students gain a deeper knowledge of what is being taught in the classroom.

7. Fee Structure

So, what happens in Online Education is the courses and specializations available for the candidates in an Online mode of education come in a minimal range of fee structure that is highly affordable and approachable for everyone. For example, if we take an Online MBA course it is one of the high-rated courses in India. The offline colleges that offer a regular MBA tend to charge a really high amount of capital so, the fee structure for Online/Distance MBA is collectively low.

8. Placements

The two modes can be distinguished by placements, which is a significant difference. For offline courses, the college hosts placement drives when numerous hiring firms come to the college to perform hiring. On a college campus, everything takes place.

There are no placement drives held by the college for online degree programs. However, the best colleges help their students get jobs. They aid in the development of better profiles and CVs, assist with interview preparations, and even assist students by connecting them with reputable businesses for jobs or internships.

9. Faculty

Most of the time, the same staff that teaches offline courses also teaches online degree programs. As it differs from college to college, it can be varied. As a result, you should always examine the college’s official website to learn more about the faculty before applying for admission. The faculty should be the same for both the offline and online courses. However, because teaching in the online form differs greatly from offline mode, you must carefully examine the facts and determine whether the faculty is qualified to do so.