Many expatriate employees in private companies in the Kingdom prefer to develop their experiences through studying postgraduate programs via distant learning courses.

This alternative in higher education hold for employees the promise of professional and personal growth without limits or boundaries.

Distance education or distance learning is a mode of delivering education and instruction, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional setting such as a classroom. Distance learning provides access for learning when the source of information and the learners are separated by time and distance or both.

Expatriate employees who are working in the Kingdom think the distant learning courses represent a suitable solution to continue working in their jobs. At the same time, they will be able to develop their experiences without leaving abroad to study in major universities with full time programs.

British universities’ distance education programs have been favored among expatriates in the Kingdom due to its low cost and strong courses. British universities also have a strong reputation over the world. They offer distance learning programs that meet the needs of private sector companies such as MBA and DBA programs.

“I am working as petrochemical engineering in a private company located in Eastern province. However, I have submitted MBA program that has been offered by a major British university via distance learning courses. I think it is the best way to continue working with acquiring strong knowledge that can develop me at my job,” Tareq Ahmed, Sudanese resident who is living in AL-Khobar said.

Expat employees said they cannot leave their jobs to study abroad on a full time basis. Their employers also will not allow them to take a two-year or one-year postgraduate program abroad and come back to work after finishing their courses. Therefore, expat employees prefer to study via distance learning as the best way to develop their experiences.

University of Leicester is one of best British universities that offer high quality of distance education programs over the world. This university is favored among expat employees in the Kingdom for study of an MBA program through a number of agencies that are active in the Gulf countries. These agencies provide seminars, lectures and examinations with professors as any traditional university.

Stafford Association, based in Dubai works to provide high level of distance education program with major universities over the world as Nottingham Trent University, University of Leicester, University of Northampton, University of Nottingham and Anglia Ruskin University.

“Stafford Association is headquartered in Dubai and works throughout the region providing distance education assistance in executive MBA’s, doctorates, BA’s, diplomas and more. Our associate offices are in Turkey and Lebanon. Plans for our second decade in the region include offices in Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. We pride ourselves on our commitment to the academic and business success of our students, our excellent relationships with our UK universities, our integrity and the high quality of our academic and administrative support staff,” according to Stafford Association.