Engineering

Hello,

The best person to answer your question is someone who has undergone distance education himself. Personally, I don't know of anyone who has done this so I can't help you on that regard.

Whether it is worth it or not depends on several things. Is the university a good one? Are their lessons well constructed? If you have to work on a project, how do they monitor your progress?

Then, there's the possibility that people might look down on you for getting an education "by mail" or via the internet. There does exist some doubt about the quality of teaching that you will get from these institutions (if you can call them that). It's possible that you'll get your diploma but whether companies will recognize it is another question.

One thing you can do, probably, is to go to a company that you're interested in joining and ask them what they think about distance education. If it's not favorable, then don't go ahead with it. If they think it's alright, then take the course.

Just for my clarification, you've already graduated and now working as a Chemical Engineer. You want to retake the Chemical Engineering course again? Or is B.E. another course? Or is it like a Master's Degree?

No I am not a graduate, But I Have done diploma in Petro Chemical Engineering & working as a Engineer in a Refinery. I would like to do B.E Chemical or Petrochemical Engineering which will three years engineering course for me.....

You have a diploma but not a graduate. I guess you do things differently in India then. In the Philippines, we call you an undergraduate but you would not have a diploma. Some companies accept undergraduates if they've had at least three years of college.

I've heard of situations where a person who's worked in a field for several years can be given a diploma after taking a series of tests or exams. These are quite rare, I'm sure, and you would not want to wait too long to do that.

There are three things you can do (others may be able to offer other advice):

• one is to talk to your employer and ask to support you in your studies. They give you a light work load, and allow you to go to class and still report for work. You'd be in school for only two, maybe three hours and the course may take more years than normal but you'll finish eventually.
• give up your present job and take a part time job. You work maybe four hours and be in your classes for six or even eight hours. The question is, can you support yourself and your classes by just working part time. I can't answer that. A lot depends on you.
• take on a business that you can do during your off-class hours. The internet and computers makes this possible nowadays. I know someone who does medical transcriptions or something for several hours at night and goes to school during the day. He earns enough money for his expenses. Finding the right business might prove difficult, however.

These two suggestions mean that you will be suffering due to spending time and effort both at work and at school. I've known people who've had to give up one over the other. Then again, there are people who have persevered and finished their schooling and continued to work.

Vulcan,

FYI, in South Africa as in India, you have different qualifications.

First, you get your high school diploma. Then you can go to a technical college, where you will earn a total practical qualification, such as electrician, plumber etc. Where you get a certificate.

Another one is where you go to a technikon (or technical university) where you do more theory and some practical, thus you get a diploma.

The highest qualification is where you go to a University and do a lot of theory and little practical. Where you then get your degree.

So our friend here has got a qualification, but is "worth less" than a degree, therefore his question.

Guest: My opinion is that any qualification is as good as you make it. So even distance learning can be good. However, I feel that "self study" is not as good as having a lecturer that hammers the facts in. But as we discussed this weekend the positives and negatives of home schooling I believe the same applies, namely it depends on the teacher and the student. For some it works, for others it will not. Good luck in furthering your education, I know it will pay of whatever direction you choose.

One comment though, formal education is worth a lot to employers, but as I decided that I will do my own thing and not work for someone else, to me it is worth more to be able to do something than to have a paper stating that i might be able to do it. When I look for employees I ask them what experience they have and what they can do, and then might look at their papers. I call all references to confirm their answers.

Regards,

TC

Okay, difference in terms here.

In the Philippines, we have technical schools. These are mainly short courses like electronics technicians, electricians, radio operators, and usually take two years to complete. You get a certificate and you can call yourself a technician.

Some schools offer three year courses, in which case, you can call yourself an associate electrician for example. That still comes with a certificate.

Now, the engineering courses where you get a diploma usually take five years. It's possible to finish in four years if you overload (take more units than normal), or three to three-and-a-half years if you take summer classes as well as overload.

I took an Electronics and Communications Engineering initially but couldn't afford the tuition fees so I dropped out after only one semester. I transferred to a computer programming school for six months and then enrolled in a electronics technician course, finishing in two years.

I learned to repair stereos and TVs but, over time, got into instrumentation and stayed there. So you can say that I'm an instrumentation and controls technician with a radio/TV service technician's certificate .

What I'm trying to get at here is that it doesn't really matter what course you took or finished. You make your own fortunes and shape your own destiny. I agree that a degree might have made things a little easier for me. Some prospective employers really required it. Those who took a chance with me were wiser, in my opinion, even though I do say so myself !

Rajasthan University/ any India University Degree is ok but if you are doing B.E from any so called 100s of self-proclaimed Institutes advertising "Affiliation" with Harvard/ Stamford/Henryford etc., thats of no value. Also a genuine University Degree from India might not of any value in a University of different country if that university is not recgonized by the foreign University.

From India or any part of the world you can sit and do Phoenix University USA Degree and that is accepted everywhere.

" Doing Engineering through distance education is worth or not?". How are they conducting this? Via internet classes and giving tests with web-cam?

They are conducting some classes... but if we wish we can join the class...or we can directly write the exams. they provide all the materials at hte time of admission. This university is having NAAC approval....So is it valid????? Pls advice....

This university is having NAAC approval....So is it valid????? Pls advice....

My friend valid for what? where? Different rules applies different places & country.

Best you go to your Town's nearest University and ask if NAAC approval from the distant University is accepted or not. Then you have to write to other Universities and find out both within your Country & outside.

I tend to agree with this poster. If the degree you would be granted by the distance learning university is accredited, they should be willing to give you the names/emails of some graduates of the program to confirm their experiences.

You can carry on with your studies and job ,without worrying about what happens when you get a degree and compared to regular university graduates , you should have upper edge if you get through. or simply quit job and get full time regular admission ,that is easiest..........

The real problem with distance learning isn't the education itself. You'll be studying the same topics as the full-time students. You'll also be studying from lecturers who are accredited by the university.

The real problem you'll be facing, rather, is social. Many people, including unfortunately, HR people, regard distance learners as inferior. This is despite the fact that completing their studies despite the obstacles they face shows that distance learners have a strong determination to succeed, and that a distance learner who is working in the field they are studying will have opportunities to put what they have studied into practise, which means that they may actually understand what they have studied better, whereas full-time students who have not undergone a period of apprenticeship may not fully comprehend the relationship between theory and practise.

I once mentored 2 students (government scholars, mind you, supposedly the best of the best in the country) who were on industrial attachment in my place of employment. Let's just say that despite their supposed higher intelligence level, they were totally incapable of applying what they have studied into practise. My point is that hard work and experience beats out education without relevent training or experience, so let that be your selling point. You are able to combine paper qualifications with relevant practical experience.

Sir,

What you have told is absolutely true.....Students who are working in the field can apply what they have studied....I felt very happy with your replies....Thank u all for your reponse....I think, as u told I can go through distance education.....if any other suggestion pls, I am eager to hear from you all.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_University