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Thunderbird ranked among world's best for distance learning MBAThunderbird ranked among world's best for distance learning MBA

Thunderbird School of Global Management again has been named by The Economist as one of the top business schools worldwide for distance learning. Thunderbird’s Global MBA On-Demand was listed among the top five programs globally by The Economist today in its ratings of distance learning MBA programs.

The Global MBA, now in its fifth year, is a 19-month program for working professionals that blends Web-based learning with on-site intensive seminars at the school’s Glendale, Ariz., campus and abroad in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Seventy-five percent of Global MBA On-Demand coursework is completed remotely. The program ranked No. 7 in 2008 when The Economist launched its semi-annual distance learning MBAs ranking.

This year, the methodology was changed to a rating system that categorized schools as “excellent” “good” “average” or “poor.” Thunderbird was one of only five schools to attain either an “excellent” or “good” rating. The ratings, which were primarily determined from surveys of distance-learning students, measured program content, the quality of students and the quality of distance learning elements such as teaching methods and the student’s sense of connection to the school. Thunderbird excelled in all three categories and received an “excellent” rating for program content. The school also received high marks in the quality of distance-learning elements, which scores how connected students feel to their school and how effective distance learning materials are.

Distance learning MBAs are becoming an increasingly important sector of business education, according to The Economist report, because they allow students from around the world to earn degrees from top-quality schools without having to change jobs or move abroad. Because distance learning programs are often studied in isolation, a sense of connection to the school and good virtual learning materials are essential, according to The Economist.

“In order to create a strong sense of belonging to the school, Thunderbird emphasizes high faculty and student interaction, collaborative learning, onsite seminars and joint studies abroad,” said Dr. Bert Valencia, vice president for distance learning programs at Thunderbird. “We see year after year that this approach is highly successful in providing the best distance learning environment for our students worldwide.”