Online study is an excellent choice – provided it is pedagogically designed and supported by quality standards.
At DOBA University of Applied Sciences (previously known as DOBA Business School), online does not mean “recordings of lectures and teacher presentations”, but rather a structured learning path, regular and meaningful interaction (with a personal online mentor and lecturer), problem-based learning, and excellent support, confirmed by the international EOCCS (EFMD) certificate. In 2018, 2021, and 2024, quality assessments of our courses confirmed that our model meets the highest European standards of online education.
What does the EOCCS international accreditation mean
- Independent quality assurance: DOBA University of Applied Sciences stands alongside the most prestigious European business schools that meet EOCCS (EFMD) standards. This guarantees you a comparable quality of online education.
- Transparent design and assessment: clear learning outcomes, assessment criteria, and structured activities.
- Ongoing interaction and support: proven, effective online mentoring and personalised academic advising with high responsiveness that prevents “learning in isolation.”
Advantages of high-quality online study include flexibility in terms of time, place, and pace of study; collaborative and problem-based learning with regular feedback from the online mentor and university lecturer; 24/7 access to study materials; teamwork among students; comprehensive support (from lecturers, online mentors, academic advisors, and technical staff); active learning; and international quality recognition.
Disadvantages of low-quality online study include “assignment submission” without feedback, little interaction with lecturers, a sense of student isolation, an unclear or unstructured course design, and slow technical support.
How DOBA Connects with the World’s Best Models
Below we summarise the most prestigious online practices and compare how they are implemented at DOBA University of Applied Sciences.
- The Open University (England) – 200,000 online students.
Renowned for its personal tutors (associate lecturers), who regularly assess and guide progress. At DOBA, this is reflected in the tandem of the online mentor and university lecturer, who lead structured course activities, teamwork, and provide ongoing feedback, supported by 24/7 access to materials.
- ASU Online (USA) – 73,000 online students.
ASU uses a standardised course design (e.g. 7.5-week modules) and strong support systems to ensure high-quality online study. At DOBA, we similarly provide a predictable, clearly defined learning path (courses last 4–6 weeks), fixed assignment deadlines, and comprehensive support (lecturer, online mentor, academic advisor, technical services).
- FernUniversität in Hagen (Germany) – 72,000 students.
It emphasises asynchronous materials, short teacher webinars, and strong support for adult learners and employability. At DOBA, this is complemented by the guidance of both online mentors and lecturers, as well as personal academic advisors, together with structured feedback on assignments. We also ensure a clear learning path and schedules – assignment deadlines are known before the start of each course. The model provides 24/7 access, a combination of asynchronous study and planned interactions, and systematic student support.
Quick Checklist for Choosing a High-Quality Online Programme
No matter where you want to study, it is worth checking whether the program includes these essential features of quality online education:
- Internationally verified quality (e.g. EOCCS)
- Clear learning path and assessment criteria
- Regular and meaningful interaction (online mentor, timely feedback)
- Collaborative tasks and links to practice (projects, real-world challenges)
- 24/7 accessibility and technical support
- Graduate career progression after completion of studies
DOBA University of Applied Sciences is a pioneer in the field of online education in Southeast Europe. It offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in the areas of business, marketing, psychology, social studies, education, innovation, and smart cities. The programs can be studied in Slovene, Croatian, or English, and all are delivered 100% online. Each year, the school has more than 2,000 students and over 6,000 alumni. Around 50% of the students come from abroad. DOBA University of Applied Sciences employs 41 staff members and collaborates with 105 higher education lecturers and 135 online mentors.
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