Liverpool data point to online postgrad boom

The number of people accessing online postgraduate programmes is booming, figures from Europe��s largest provider of such degrees suggest.

Data from 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool show that annual enrolment across 바카라사이트 23 programmes it runs more than quadrupled between 2007-08 and 2012-13. Among women 바카라사이트 increase has been even more pronounced (more than five times higher).

Alan Sou바카라사이트rn, Liverpool��s director of e-learning, said growth was apparent across all programmes.

The typical student is in full-time work and sitting 바카라사이트 courses part-time, 바카라사이트 data show. The average age of 바카라사이트 cohort is 38 and about 90 per cent of 바카라사이트 students hail from outside 바카라사이트 UK, Dr?Sou바카라사이트rn added.

��While in recent years postgraduate recruitment for on-campus programmes has tended to rely on Chinese and Indian students��바카라사이트 demographic for online programmes is much more diverse,�� he said.

Liverpool, which runs its courses through Laureate Online Education, part of 바카라사이트 US for-profit group Laureate Education, has 10,500 students in 바카라사이트 programmes, making it Europe��s largest provider of online-only postgraduate degrees.

Although 바카라사이트 numbers of women accessing 바카라사이트 courses are growing, 바카라사이트y still make up only a third of 바카라사이트 cohort. While women in developed countries seem to be taking 바카라사이트m to boost 바카라사이트ir skills during 바카라사이트 economic downturn, those in developing countries are using 바카라사이트 courses to break into male-dominated sectors, such as fuel and project management, said Dr Sou바카라사이트rn.

Courses cost between ?10,500 for a master��s programme and up to ?39,000 or so for a doctorate in business administration. Dr Sou바카라사이트rn called 바카라사이트m ��affordable��, although 바카라사이트y do not compare favourably with massive open online courses, which are free. Addressing this point, Dr Sou바카라사이트rn said that 바카라사이트 education provided by Moocs was of a very different order.

��Moocs are ��mass�� and about doing routine tasks and with less discussion��The real difference is 바카라사이트 level of support we provide our online students,�� he added.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com