PhD holder pursues MBA via e-Learning

Most people would stop at PhD. That is if they managed to get THAT FAR in the first place. After all, getting a "Dr" prefix before you name is as far as you can possibly go, academically. And what more if your PhD is from Cambridge University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.

Dr. Mahesha Ranasoma, the Operations Director at Shell Gas in Sri Lanka, already holds a PhD specializing in Coastal Engineering. Nevertheless he is now pursuing his MBA from the University of Wales via PurpleTrain.com.

Noting that his current qualification is in a highly specialized technical field, Dr Mahesha feels that an MBA would help enhance his competencies in the areas of logistics management, business management, people management and leadership. "And if everything goes well, I hope to continue
the MBA dissertation beyond the MBA level and onto a higher level with the University of Wales", he added. Looks like Dr Mahesha will be shooting for a double "Dr".

This believer of lifelong learning also likes to impart his knowledge. He was a university lecturer for 5 years prior to joining Shell. With his experience from the business world and his MBA credentials, he plans to do some part-time teaching in future where he will be in the position to blend theory and real life practical cases for the benefit of his students.

Dr Mahesha had contemplated doing an MBA for sometime prior to signing up with PurpleTrain.com. But the conventional method of pursuing an MBA could not fit in with his busy schedule, which included frequent travel and work hours that vary considerably. "I kept postponing it until the e-learning option came along", explained Dr Mahesha. "It meets my requirements perfectly. If this e-learning option was not available, I would not have pursued my MBA at this point in time."

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High flying VP sees value in e-Learning

Ifyou are already the Vice President of Corporate & Legal Affairs in an American MNC, would you see the need to pursue an MBA degree to further you career? Linda Castillo, who holds that senior role at CalEnergy International in Manila, admits that she does not really need an MBA for the purpose of career advancement at this point in time, but she is totally enthusiastic
about pursuing it for all other possible reasons.

Linda already holds degrees in economics and law but is currently pursuing her MBA from the University of Wales via PurpleTrain.com. She is amongst the rare breed who firmly believes in lifelong learning. "It suits my desire to constantly
improve myself. Education for me is a means to fight mediocrity and mental deterioration", explains Linda. She also believes that education should be an end in itself. "One studies because there are always new things to learn and discover. All learning is useful. Nothing is wasted."

Before signing up with PurpleTrain.com, Linda seriously considered a part-time on-campus MBA programme abroad. "But it was not efficient for me," she explained. "I have too much work to be traveling once a month and to be out of the office for one or two weeks at a time, aside from the fact that it is not really that safe and such a hassle to travel these days. It would be very difficult to pursue the part-time MBA even if my company will shoulder the expense."

"E-learning is the best thing that ever happened to MBA education. It enables a busy executive to have it all: pursue a career and have a life while obtaining a masters degree from a good foreign university. It's perfect for me."

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When Lydia Han wanted to further her studies in 2000, she was working as a nurse in a local hospital. Her rotating shift duties made it quite impossible for her to attend regular classes. Nevertheless Lydia is now the proud holder of a First Class Honours degree in Computing from the University of Portsmouth.

The 26-year old, who is originally from China and is now a Singapore permanent resident, credits e-learning through PurpleTrain.com as the means that allowed her to achieve her goal of getting a degree qualification. She explains, "Without e-learning, I might not be able to get a degree. It allowed me to study even though I had to work shift duties."

"Without e-learning, I might not be able to get a degree. It allowed me to study even though I had to work shift duties."

Her degree also helped her to clinch 2 new jobs since graduating. Immediately upon graduation in August, Lydia got a job as an Investment Sales Executive and 2 months ago she started on her new job as a Relationship Manager with Hong Leong Finance.

So what was it about e-learning that suits Lydia so well? "To be able to study at my own time and convenience was the most attractive benefit of e-learning for me", says Lydia, "It relieves me from the stress of having to take leave or constantly swapping shift duties with my colleagues since I was working as a nurse. It is unfair and impossible for my colleagues to constantly swap duties with me."

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"My new degree definitely
helped in clinching this job because it is recognized by the company."

He was working as a programmer with tight project
deadlines that demandes frequent late nights of code churning and trouble shooting. He also wanted to pursue a degree programme which he can complete in the shortest time possible.

E-learner graduate, Chiew Vee Tian not only completed his Bachelor in Computing from the University of Portsmouth within the minimum period of one year but he aced it as well with First Class Honours, one of only two students to achieve this distinction. And to cap it all off, he found a new and better paying job in less than two months after graduation - not an
easy achievement in an extremely weak job market. "My new degree definitely helped in clinching this job because it is recognized by the company", explained Vee Tian.

For this 21-year old from Johor Baru, Malaysia, PurpleTrain.com was the ideal means to study for his degree. He considered degree programmes with regular classroom lessons but his heavy work commitments ruled out that option. He also considered taking up a part-time degree course with only evening classes but that option required a much longer period to complete. Vee Tian knew he could handle a much faster pace in his studies and did not want to take any more than the minimum time needed to complete his degree course. (Degree programmes on PurpleTrain can be completed within a minimum of one year to a maximum of three years.)

F&B expert aims to be business expert as well

Marshall Pang has opened theme restaurants in 5-star hotels, trained hundreds of F&B personnel, started his own food business and even played a role in Beijing's bid for the 2008 Summer Olympics, also from the F&B perspective. There is little that this food and beverage expert has not yet taken on in the epicurean field. And to hone his already impressive resume, Marshall aims to add an MBA to his credentials.

Formerly from Beijing and currently working as the Business Development Manager for Suntec Food & Leisure, Marshall is also an e-learner with PurpleTrain.com. He was making plans to leave for the UK to pursue his MBA when an attractive job offer came from Suntec Food & Leisure in Singapore. Marshall was faced with the hard choice of either a great career opportunity or an important upgrading of his skills. Reluctantly, he put his MBA plans on hold and took up the posting in Singapore.

But as soon as he arrived in Singapore, Marshall happily discovered the e-learning option, which allowed him to have both - a great job AND his MBA.


In his current position, Marshall is responsible for developing and implementing his company's F&B strategies and plans in the vast China market. This key role often takes him out of the country and even while in Singapore, late hours are the norm. He has precious little time left for his other pursuits. With e-learning, he is grateful even for the time saved from the commuting he would have had to make if he had to attend classes. And since he travels often, he need not worry about missed lessons. "E-learning is the most flexible and efficient means of part-time education", declared Marshall.

Since he has already done so much in his field of expertise, what does he hope to gain from his MBA studies? "I believe that practical experiences and knowledge are the foundations of personal development", explained Marshall. "But structured study like an MBA, will systemize and optimize all that practical knowledge."

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Pursuing an American and a British degree simultaneously

Kyawt Kay Khaing hails from Myanmar. The 23-year old came to Singapore on a double mission - to pursue two separate degrees simultaneously.

This ambitious feat is possible because one of the degrees is pursued via e-learning on PurpleTrain.com.

She chose to do a BSc in Business Management with Salem International University (SIU) because she wants one of her degrees to be American. Concurrently she is pursuing another business degree from a British university, in taught class mode at Informatics Centre.

Kay Khaing is pursuing both an American and a British degree because she wants to keep her options open. She intends to go on to an MBA programme, and these two degrees will allow her to choose either route when the day comes. How does she take on two degree courses simultaneously? Most of her taught classes at Informatics Centre are scheduled on the first half of the day. Her e-learning course, on the other hand, is totally flexible and carried out at her convenience, which she does mostly in the evenings.

Kay Khaing is certainly an enthusiastic e-learner - she clocked in the highest level of participation rate amongst all her course mates. She never
misses a chat session and at the discussion threads, her name constantly appears with either a question or an opinion. She finds her facilitators
highly knowledgeable and responsive. The facilitators for SIU courses on PurpleTrain.com are the university's own lecturers and are therefore experts in the course work.

And what does she think of her American education done via e-learning? She feels that the course work is very practical in nature - knowledge that you apply directly into business. And since American business is the dominant force in the global economy today, Kay Khaing believes that what she has learned will definitely be very applicable in her future career.

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