Internet-based delivery of undergraduate management education: Current status and future trends.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to describe the current status and future trends associated with distance education in post secondary institutions. Specifically, the study described the current status and future trends of university-level management education with respect to use of the Internet to provide distance education alternatives for undergraduate programs at institutions accredited by AACSB International.;The study used a descriptive methodology by surveying management chairs/deans. The online survey included 418 AACSB International accredited schools in the United States with undergraduate education. Data analysis included 161 respondents, a response rate of 38.52%.;Findings in the study indicated that the majority of the schools made minimal use of the Internet for delivery of education in management at the Freshman/Sophomore levels. Most schools used the Internet extensively at the Junior/Senior levels for delivery of some instruction and/or materials, but few of the programs offered more than 10% of the courses at this level as totally Internet based.;Findings indicated that respondents view the Internet as a basis for delivery of materials but not instruction. Voluntary comments strongly indicated the need for face-to-face instruction.;Respondents indicated that use of the Internet in management education was about the same as its use in other business programs and in non-business programs at the same school.;Findings indicated that the use of the Internet would increase in the future. Indications of increased usage at the three- and six-year intervals were less than the projected increase at the ten-year interval.;There was no difference in the responses of schools based on size (determined by levels of program accreditation) or region (determined by regional accrediting bodies for colleges and universities).;Recommendations include (1) localized research regarding student desire for Internet based management education, (2) publication of undergraduate "best practices" to assist other faculty in the preparation of Internet based education, (3) moving one section of multi-section courses to Internet based on a trial basis, and (4) further research into outside factors which may change the necessity of Internet based education, such as terrorism, natural disasters, etc.