Distance learning during parental leave - the ideal time for further training

Student at Allensbach University shares her experience of the MBA General Management during her parental leave:

I am happy to share my experiences with other prospective students about my distance learning program at Allensbach University, with a special focus on studying while on parental leave. In order to give you a good assessment, I would like to briefly introduce myself: from 2013-2017, I completed my Bachelor's degree at a university in a humanities subject, as well as a minor in economics. I then went straight into working life, so I had around 4 years of professional experience at the time of my family-related leave.

My son was born in October 2022 and I planned to return to work after six months, but for various reasons the original plan was not feasible, so I will unexpectedly be looking after my son full-time until January 2024. However, I decided to complete my Bachelor of Arts with an MBA so as not to leave this time unused professionally and started looking for a program that suited my life circumstances. As children are unpredictable in their development - especially in the first two years - I was looking for a degree program that didn't follow a rigid pattern. Allensbach University offers exactly that.

Accessibility and professional support

After attending an information evening, I was convinced that the structure was right and phoned the student advisory service to clarify any final questions. It immediately became clear to me that the university was extremely professional and that it also had short, fast communication channels. Instead of making an appointment in the distant future, she made time for me at that very moment. My whining son in the background neither influenced nor disturbed the quality of the conversation. And so it was ultimately this phone call that convinced me to choose the university.

As announced on the information day, my lecturers can be reached quickly by telephone. They provide support at every point and also respond quickly to emails. At the beginning of the course, the university provides a module on the topic of "scientific work". As I had already successfully completed my Bachelor's degree, I wasn't expecting much new information, but I was soon proved wrong. The chapter on "self-management" in particular proved to be motivating and helpful in view of my family's new situation. After all, we didn't become parents for the first time in the last few months, but I also moved with my family from Hesse to Baden-Württemberg unplanned. Incidentally, I can't recommend moving in addition to parental leave in view of my studies.

"Seize opportunities as soon as they arise" is a good description of my family's motto, however, so we didn't give a second thought to the additional stress, but made a plan for how we could reconcile everything. Now, after four weeks in our new home, I have to say that although the challenges have not diminished, we have managed everything well.

Of course, my studies suffered during this time. This is where the nature of distance learning paid off. It wasn't a problem that I couldn't attend a course every week, but now that I'm set up and have more time, I can catch up on everything. And without having to explain myself to anyone. Since the quality of the accompanying lecture material, the learn nuggets and the lectures themselves are so professionally provided and prepared, I had no difficulty whatsoever in working through the material even when I wasn't there.

Parental leave as the ideal time for further training

Now that I also don't have any family or friends nearby who can look after my son for a few hours, it's a huge challenge to immerse myself in the research for a term paper, because a short 30-minute window is not enough - at least for me - to delve deep into the subject matter. So I have to rely on good bedtimes during the day or time at the weekend to prepare the term papers. Fortunately, my son's grandparents have sacrificially offered to make the long journey to us a few times a month to look after their grandson.

Personally, I am firmly convinced that parental leave is the ideal time for further training - as long as it is the right training measure. At this point, I define "right" as "suitable for your life circumstances". Studying at Allensbach University is right for me not only because of the distance learning character, but above all because of the structure and organization of the course. Being able to start every month, being able to listen to lectures at any time of the day and, in particular, the examination form of homework and assignments. They allow me to pause the work when my son needs my attention - as he has done about 30 times since this document was opened - and then resume it when he is asleep. The content of the course gives my career the foundation it needs to take the next steps, and doing it while on parental leave attests to my resilience in a way that can never be captured in a report card.

Flexible deadlines and lectures

Studying during parental leave contributes to this as a qualification measure and test run. Can I reconcile my studies or career and family? What conditions must be met? And what concessions will I demand from my employer and my partner in the future if we both want to advance our careers?

I can already share some initial findings with you today: Yes, it is possible to juggle studying and family life with a baby. The more external support you have, the faster you can make progress. To get the right prioritization of individual times - family or work - maximum flexibility for both parties is essential. I work flexibly at the times when I can "free up" time, and the university offers me flexible deadlines and lecture dates. So my conclusion after 100 days: Yes, I can recommend studying at Allensbach University to any mother or father on parental leave.