Here’s a groundbreaking concept: a free online university that draws from OpenCourseWare material. If you think it could never happen, think again.
Next month, the University of the People opens its doors. They’ll charge only nominal fees for applications and testing. They’ll also accept any student that has a high school diploma and proficiency in English.
How will it work? A recent University of the People news release explains:
“UoP will be able to effectively function on a limited budget without sacrificing quality of education by using collaborative and open-source eLearning. UoP will embrace peer-to-peer teaching to make the best use of a student body from around the world. Within online study communities, students will share resources, exchange ideas, discuss weekly topics, submit assignments and take exams. The curriculum will be supported by respected scholars. A community of educators, comprised of active and retired professors, librarians, master level students and other professionals, will participate and oversee the assessment process. They will also develop ongoing procedures for curriculum evaluation and development.”
After the required waiting time, the University of the People plans to seek accreditation. They will initially offer two degrees: a BA in Business Administration and a BSc in Computer Science.
If you’re interested in becoming a part of this unique university, you can enroll in April to begin classes this September. More details are found on the school website.
This is certainly an ambitious project. But, if it works, the University of the People could revolutionize the way the world views learning, teaching, and earning a degree.
See Also:
List of OpenCourseWare Material
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