Can students build a powerful business network without ever setting foot on campus?
Absolutely. There’s been a noticeable shift in the way that students approach networking and how institutions design online learning experiences.
For decades, building a strong business network was seen as one of the biggest advantages of attending university on campus. Coffee chats after class, student clubs, and campus job fairs were considered the stepping stones to a successful business career.
But as more students pursue their Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree online, professional connections are increasingly formed in virtual environments that reflect how today’s workplaces operate.
In our digital-first economy, meaningful professional connections are no longer confined to lecture halls or physical campuses. Instead, they’re built through virtual collaboration, applied projects, and intentional relationship-building—all online.
The Rise of Online BBA Programs
In 2020, the adoption of virtual learning dramatically accelerated, resulting in lasting changes.
“When I first began my career in higher education in 2016, online degrees were viewed with far more caution than we see today,” says Brittany DeCoffe, Head of Strategic Enrolment at the University of Fredericton (UFred). “The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally shifted this landscape. This helped build significant trust among Canadian employers.”
Many employers are indeed recognizing the value of online degrees, and over the last few years, online BBAs have grown in popularity due to their flexibility and convenience. The shift reflects broader global trends where virtual programs now account for significant enrolment across all levels of education.
A 2025 survey from the Canada Digital Learning Research Association (CDLRA) found 63 percent of respondents expected more programs and courses to be offered fully online, compared to just 45 percent predicting the growth of in-person formats. Nearly one in two student respondents (48 percent) said they’d like to have the option of sometimes learning online.
Four Ways to Build a Strong Business Network Online
One of the most common myths about online degrees is that they don’t provide meaningful opportunities to connect with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. Students with strategic intent can—and do—build powerful networks while studying online.
Here are four ways students are widening their professional network.
1. Make Peer Connections Through Coursework
For students like Gilbert George, who is pursuing both a Bachelor of Business Administration and an Associate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety online at UFred, peer interaction is primarily centered around discussion forums and group assignments.
These interactions mirror how many modern workplaces operate, with professional teams increasingly collaborating asynchronously using shared documents, discussion threads, and digital platforms.
“Courses are delivered through structured weekly modules that include assessments, group projects, and discussion forums—activities that intentionally foster teamwork, collaboration, and peer engagement in a virtual environment,” DeCoffe says.
George notes that while collaboration may not be constant, academic engagement is consistent and supported. “You do tend to get feedback from your colleagues when you post a discussion,” he says.
Peer networks are often foundational for strong working relationships over the course of a career—and they start in these virtual classrooms.
2. Gain Support and Expert Insight With Unmatched Faculty Access
Access to faculty can be more direct in virtual settings than in traditional lecture halls, with the ability to regularly connect one on one. Rather than competing for attention in a crowded classroom, online students engage with instructors through written feedback, discussion responses, and one-on-one communication.
In UFred’s online BBA program, faculty members play a central role in guiding students, offering feedback, and supporting academic and professional development.
George says faculty presence has been one of the strongest aspects of his experience.
“The professors are amazing. They tend to reach out to you if you have any struggles that you’re facing. They support you,” he says.
In programs like these, where professors are often still actively working in the field, access to expertise is invaluable, representing a level of senior industry expertise students are hard-pressed to get elsewhere.
“I have come across some very good professors,” George says. “They’re top-notch and well-versed in their subject areas.”
3. Actively Collaborate During Capstone Projects
At UFred, online BBA students finish their degree with a written capstone project, giving them the opportunity to network and connect with other students and peers, professors, and even external stakeholders.
Capstone projects are often one of the most valuable components of a BBA, since they allow students to synthesize what they’ve learned and apply it to practical business challenges.
“Students receive hands-on support from inquiry through graduation, including academic advising, technical and administrative assistance, and ongoing faculty oversight,” DeCoffe says.
Capstone projects can become opportunities to demonstrate leadership, initiative, and problem-solving in a virtual environment. These experiences reflect the realities of modern workplaces, where distributed teams frequently collaborate across time zones and digital platforms.
4. Earn Experience Through Relevant Work
Many of UFred’s online BBA students are mid-career working professionals who are looking to broaden their business knowledge and immediately apply what they learn.
When George began UFred’s online Bachelor of Business Administration and Associate Degree in Occupational Health and Safety, he was working full-time at food services provider Compass Group Canada.
“Students and employers both benefit when learning can be applied on the job,” DeCoffe says. ”Students can maintain their income and build career experience instead of waiting four years to enter the workforce.”
Some online BBA students choose to take on volunteer opportunities or part-time jobs to gain experience and grow their business network.
George, for example, recently began a volunteer position as a facilitator at Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, a non-profit dedicated to protecting the health and safety of Ontario workers and businesses. This can help with portfolio building and references.
How Online BBA Programs Support Collaboration
Through virtual classrooms and peer work, consistent faculty access and support, collaborative capstone projects, and hands-on experience, online students have extensive opportunities to meet new people and grow their business networks.
After all, building a strong network remains a core component of career development and advancement in business. Current opportunities for online students often mirror the way that remote networking is done today for working professionals, giving students early exposure to professional expectations.
“Surveys by the Human Resources Professionals Association, as well as Indeed and LinkedIn recruitment trend reports, consistently show increased employer acceptance, and in some cases, preference for online degrees,” says DeCoffe.
What’s more, the ability to seamlessly weave the immediate application of classroom learning in real-world situations uniquely prepares online students to thrive during and after their studies.
“Because most online BBA students remain employed while studying, both the student and their employer see a stronger return on investment,” DeCoffe says.
Contributing Writer