In an age when we have so much access to information that we can learn all kinds of skills and knowledge from the comfort of our own homes (or on the go with our mobiles), just how important do you think it is for the people who work for your enterprise to have official qualifications? And when qualifications are important, how much do you care whether a candidate attended a prestigious university?

These are interesting questions for business owners, and while there is really no right or wrong answer, it is interesting to see whether there are shifts in business, away from candidates who studied at top tier universities having an automatic advantage.

1. The Rise in Credibility for Online Degrees

Some studies and surveys have already looked into changes in the way business owners and senior managers consider the qualifications of candidates, particularly in terms of online universities versus traditional on-campus study. When online degrees were a new thing, there was a perception that they were less credible and less strictly marked than their equivalents on-campus study.

Whether or not this perception was justified is another matter, however as online technology has improved, it is now very much possible for a college to offer exactly the same level of education to remote students. As a result of this, business owners are starting to see online degrees as just as good as conventional ones. In one US study, 83% of CEOs and senior executives said that online degrees held as much credibility in their eyes as traditionally gained degrees in the same subjects.

2. A Backlash Against Elitism

Another point that comes into play when it comes to how business owners view the qualifications of the people they consider hiring is whether or not they feel that having a degree from a top tier establishment is, in fact, a negative thing.

In recent times, there has been a lot more interest in the value of having a diverse team who bring different life experiences to the table and fresh perspectives. There is a perception that having attended high end schools is a sign of some kind of privilege or elitism, and that this may not be something desirable. Of course, this is also just a perception, and many people who attended prestigious universities worked very hard to get there or had to actually exhibit exceptional talent, but it is a perception that can affect how candidates are viewed nonetheless.

3. Are You Fair?

Ultimately, what every employer wants is the best people working within their business, and what makes someone the best fit for one business may not be the same as for another. In some businesses, sending out someone to meet with your clients who is (legitimately) wearing Harvard rings might have a positive impact, whereas for a more trendy up and coming company, a staff of self-taught programmers who never went to college at all might create more innovative results.

In the end, the main question to ask yourself is if you have biases around the qualifications that your candidates have and where they got them that may actually be preventing you from seeing the best people for your business.