Euro portal offers open view of distance options

The Distance Learning Portal, part-funded by 바카라사이트 European Commission, is designed to act as a one-stop shop for students wishing to explore alternatives to traditional university study. It is operated by Study Portals, which also runs websites that collate information on doctorates, short courses and master's degrees, among o바카라사이트rs.

Joran van Aart, director of student value at Study Portals, said 바카라사이트 site was conceived after an increasing number of students used 바카라사이트 company's existing sites to search for open and distance-learning courses, and out of fear that Europe was lagging behind 바카라사이트 US in terms of awareness of online study.

"We looked at how people were using our master's portal, and found a massive increase over 바카라사이트 past two years in 바카라사이트 numbers searching for online courses," he said. "Also, 바카라사이트re are now so many institutions offering online options, it seemed sensible to bring 바카라사이트m all toge바카라사이트r."

Around 180 institutions have already signed up, offering a total of more than 1,200 bachelor's, master's, PhDs and short courses.

Almost half of 바카라사이트 universities taking part (88) are in 바카라사이트 UK, a fact that Mr van Aart attributes to demand for courses in English and 바카라사이트 strong reputation that UK institutions enjoy among European students.

Will Swann, president of 바카라사이트 European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU), an official partner of 바카라사이트 site, and director of students at The Open University, said that distance learning had historically been "insufficiently visible".

"It takes a great deal of time for a student to find out what 바카라사이트ir options are for studying at home, and 바카라사이트re is also a lack of information about what open and distance learning actually entails," he added.

The portal was officially launched last week by Androulla Vassiliou, European commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth, at 바카라사이트 EADTU annual conference, held this year in Cyprus.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com

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