Exporting online engineering management programs: Enablers, barriers, and examples from two universities

Abstract

This paper investigates enablers and barriers for Engineering Management Degree Granting Programs offered online by universities located in the United States to students located in foreign countries. Using a strong foundation of literature research and two universities on opposite sides of the country (one east coast, one west coast) exporting online Engineering Management programs as examples, the paper investigates seven enablers and seven barriers. The enablers and barriers are reviewed in the context of delivering engineering management education online across national borders, without requiring students to travel to another country (referred to as Mode 1 service export). The investigation reveals two main findings: 1) that factors of success are driven by a function of the students, the host countries, the offering institutions and the competitive climate at any time, and 2) that Mode 1 service export of Engineering Management programs results in benefits to the universities offering such programs and the students taking the programs.