For this topic I will discuss The UoL/Laureate partnership which offers 100% online Masters courses. It considers itself "a leader in worldwide education" and has more than 300,000 students enrolled in courses which have just demands "just as high as the on-campus equivalents" and the courses are "no soft option". Having researched the topic, I believe it is one of very few universities (it was the only one I found) to offer online courses on this scale.
The University of Liverpool, through Laureate Online Education, offers twelve different courses (mainly MSc) to students of any age, in 175 countries, for fees ranging from £9,309 to £19,422. Most are around £15-17,000, meaning education is only available to the wealthy and perhaps contributes to the worldwide digital divide which was discussed in Sue's lecture. People in poor countries with no access to physical universities will most likely not be able to do something like this either, however for those who do have the funds, the idea is wonderful.
The courses are value for money, however. If a non-UK student was to do the course in-person, there would be flight fees, accommodation fees, living fees and many other costs to consider, therefore the net-cost is probably quite similar to taking the course online with the added bonus of flexibility. Courses can take between 18 months and six years to complete, depending on the student’s flexibility.
The courses offer a structure not too unlike New Media Cultures - students are continually assessed and attend asynchronous online "webinars" (with about 18 students) where they can share their views with peers. There is some physicality, though. While students can information online, the UoL also hold "informal face-to-face sessions" around the world to show what their courses can offer. At the end of the course students can also attend an in-person graduation ceremony, allowing students to meet their peers and tutors for the first time.
Such schemes are clearly at the forefront of learning and I believe many universities will follow the UoL’s lead, however the issue of “brain drain” is a serious one. With online learning becoming increasingly accessible, lesser developed countries could lose more of their talented workforce, widening the gap between rich and poor economies around the world, as economies need talent to grow.
The University of Liverpool, through Laureate Online Education, offers twelve different courses (mainly MSc) to students of any age, in 175 countries, for fees ranging from £9,309 to £19,422. Most are around £15-17,000, meaning education is only available to the wealthy and perhaps contributes to the worldwide digital divide which was discussed in Sue's lecture. People in poor countries with no access to physical universities will most likely not be able to do something like this either, however for those who do have the funds, the idea is wonderful.
The courses are value for money, however. If a non-UK student was to do the course in-person, there would be flight fees, accommodation fees, living fees and many other costs to consider, therefore the net-cost is probably quite similar to taking the course online with the added bonus of flexibility. Courses can take between 18 months and six years to complete, depending on the student’s flexibility.
The courses offer a structure not too unlike New Media Cultures - students are continually assessed and attend asynchronous online "webinars" (with about 18 students) where they can share their views with peers. There is some physicality, though. While students can information online, the UoL also hold "informal face-to-face sessions" around the world to show what their courses can offer. At the end of the course students can also attend an in-person graduation ceremony, allowing students to meet their peers and tutors for the first time.
Such schemes are clearly at the forefront of learning and I believe many universities will follow the UoL’s lead, however the issue of “brain drain” is a serious one. With online learning becoming increasingly accessible, lesser developed countries could lose more of their talented workforce, widening the gap between rich and poor economies around the world, as economies need talent to grow.
