News Archive
Durham's distance learning programmes celebrate 20 years
(21 August 2008)
Durham Business School celebrates 20 years of offering distance learning programmes this year, with a group of the original cohort of students joining current DL students at a celebration dinner in September.
Durham is in the Financial Times’ world Top 20 Business Schools for delivering this type of programme. There are currently 638 students from 76 different countries - from China to the USA and from Iceland to South Africa - enrolled on one of the School’s distance learning programmes, underlining Durham’s high international standing. Distance learning allows students maximum flexibility in choosing when and where they learn. One alumnus of the distance learning programme is Craig Davidson, a European production engineer with car manufacturer Nissan in Sunderland. Craig, who graduated this year, began his MBA studies in 2001 after the birth of his first child. Since then he has had a second child and changed jobs within Nissan. “Flexibility has been the key for me as well as Durham’s reputation,” he said. “I have a demanding job involving lots of travelling and the arrival of my second child meant that domestic life was equally as demanding. “I needed a course where I could fit the work around my commitments and the distance learning MBA allowed me to do just that.” Craig’s first degree was in engineering. His job with Nissan when he embarked on his MBA involved looking at the best ways to introduce new models into the plant. His new role is in quality assurance. “I am finding my MBA more relevant to my new role. I have to visit between 15 and 20 different suppliers, communicate with plant managers, and help them resolve problems. I’ve found it very useful having the broad background of the MBA to help me understand their pressures.” The distant learning programmes include an MBA/MBA(Finance), MA Management and MA Marketing. Professor Rob Dixon, Dean of the Business School, said: “The World has changed enormously since 1988. Business is now a global phenomenon bringing together people from all over the world. “The issues impacting on business impact on all of us, so it is vitally important that our business leaders of today and tomorrow are equipped with the right skills and understanding to lead us to a sustainable future. “The wisdom of the decision in 1988 to create distance learning programmes at Durham has been proved time and again. The demand for them has never been greater.” For further information contact Guy Millen, Programme Manager, Distance Learning Programmes, Durham Business School, Durham University, Mill Hill Lane, Durham, DH1 3LB. Tel: 0191 334 5112 or email: j.g.millen@durham.ac.uk
