IE Business School calls for online MBA reform

Lee Newman, dean of IE Business School in Madrid, says the online MBA market needs significant changes. He noted that many programs are too similar, causing confusion among students. Applications for business schools are rising, but online MBAs still represent a small segment. A recent survey showed only 13% of prospective students are considering online degrees, compared to 52% for traditional MBAs. Online MBA students tend to be older and more experienced, often balancing work and study. Newman is reviewing IE's course offerings to address overlaps. Despite the growing interest in online education, some schools hesitate to offer online MBAs to protect in-person programs. The pandemic blurred these lines, with many schools adding online components. IE's online MBA ranked highly for salary increases and diversity among its students and faculty.