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June 8, 2007
Distance is no issue as MBA grads from around the world attend Athabasca University's Convocation
Close to half of this year's 218 MBA grads are traveling to Athabasca tomorrow to receive their degrees in person at Athabasca University's Convocation ceremony. The AU MBA Class of 2007 represents every region of Canada, the United States and several other countries including Australia, Germany, Yemen, Switzerland and Kenya. As Dr. Lindsay Redpath, Executive Director of the Centre for Innovative Management, home of Athabasca University's online graduate management programs notes, "We have a great turnout for Convocation, reflecting the truly international character of AU's MBA program, and its impact on the Canadian and global business communities. The attendance at this year's Convocation reflects the extraordinary connection that our grads have to the program, to their fellow grads, to their professors, and to Athabasca University." Moses Abowga, MBA and head of Information Technology at the Commercial Bank of Africa in Nairobi Kenya, is one of the graduates making the journey to Athabasca. "The way the degree is structured makes you feel like you are in a class with your colleagues, despite being hundreds of miles away. I almost felt like I knew people whom I had not met-the online degree was great!" This will be Moses' second trip to Alberta; in October of 2004, he attended a residential elective program in Calgary and experienced snow for the first time. Also traveling to Athabasca is Rob Drew, MBA and Operations Manager for Terex Utilities in South Dakota. "Partially as a result of the AU MBA, I relocated to the United States as a consultant, later Plant Manager and currently, Operations Manager in South Dakota for an $8 billion US global manufacturer," says Rob. "AU offered the flexibility required for my work schedule and travel. I traveled extensively during my studies and even worked on one of my courses while in Milan, Italy." The global perspective is one of the reasons Edmontonian Kevin Peterson, MBA and Vice President with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP decided to enroll in Athabasca University's MBA. "I knew AU's program had a great reputation in Canada," says Kevin. "What really sold me was the incredible amount of interaction with other senior managers all across the country and around the world. The international experience of my fellow classmates really helped me to challenge, critique and analyze the way I think and how businesses operate in the global market. The interactive model AU has built to deliver its MBA is sensational and is truly at the leading edge of what's possible in online collaboration." Launched in 1994 as the world's first online MBA program, Athabasca University's MBA program has grown to become Canada's largest Executive MBA with over 800 students world-wide, and an alumni population approaching 2,000. The Financial Times of London has recognized the AU MBA as one of the" top Executive MBAs in the world."
Source: Athabasca University, Alberta

June 8, 2007
Athabasca University: First Doctorate in Distance Education in North America
Athabasca University has received approval from the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology to offer its first doctoral program, a Doctor of Education (EdD) in distance education. The program, the first of its kind in North America, will admit its first students in August 2008. "Athabasca University has established itself as a world leader in providing high quality distance education," Athabasca University president Frits Pannekoek said, "so it is fitting that our first doctorate reflects our area of expertise. We are very excited about this new development for our university as it paves the way for other doctorates the university is proposing." Building on Athabasca University's Master of Distance Education program, the new EdD program will address the educational needs of a wide range of practitioners, scholars and researchers in the distance education arena. The program will provide critical direction as distance education evolves and expands. "This program will enable students and faculty to form an online research community studying all aspects of learning at a distance," Pannekoek said. "The research is useful in many contexts as more and more aspects of online education are adopted by universities and by businesses for professional development." The new doctoral program will admit students annually, beginning with 12 for the inaugural year. Online applications will be accepted by the Centre for Distance Education this fall, and program selections will be made by February 15, 2008. Prior to approval from the Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, the new EdD program underwent a rigorous review by the Campus Alberta Quality Council, which considers the readiness of institutions to deliver and sustain high quality degree programs. To meet this goal, all degree programs recommended by the council must offer an education of sufficient breadth and rigour to meet national and international program standards at recognized post-secondary institutions.
Source: Athabasca University, Alberta