As we analyze the executive education landscape for our clients, increasingly we are compelled to look “out of category” at a new breed of aggressive providers from outside of the traditional academic enterprise. While these products are still positioning themselves as “complementary” or in some way supportive of the traditional academic product, it is no doubt just a matter of time until a more direct assault on the core target audience will emerge. This is yet another competitive challenge to the traditional executive education industry. These well-resourced enterprises, with significant knowledge-creation capacity and ownership of important channels will be become real options for individuals seeking information and, ultimately, meaningful “credentials.”
The following links offer a good introduction to this new landscape.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/69792568-996d-11e1-948a-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1v2YLeaXX