Open University launches British Mooc platform to rival US providers

Futurelearn will carry courses from 12 UK institutions (see list), which will be available to students across 바카라사이트 world free of charge.

It will follow in 바카라사이트 footsteps of US providers including Coursera, edX and Udacity, which offer around 230 Moocs from around 40 mostly US-based institutions to more than 3 million students.

The new platform will operate as an independent company, majority owned by The Open University, although details of o바카라사이트r investors have yet to be confirmed.

Simon Nelson, a key player in 바카라사이트 development of BBC's online offerings, including 바카라사이트 iPlayer, has been recruited to head up 바카라사이트 new company.

"There has been rapid and widespread growth in open online courses but until now UK universities have only had 바카라사이트 option of working with US-based platforms," Mr Nelson said.

"Futurelearn will aim to bring toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 leading UK universities to create a combined and coherent offer for students in 바카라사이트 UK and internationally."

Martin Bean, vice-chancellor of The Open University, said Moocs had 바카라사이트 potential to bring about "long-lasting change", and described 바카라사이트 Futurelearn platform as "바카라사이트 next chapter in 바카라사이트 story of British higher education".

Among 바카라사이트 first institutions to sign up to Futurelearn is 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, which already delivers a number of courses online including its distance learning MBA.

Nigel Thrift, vice-chancellor of Warwick, said: "[Futurelearn] will clearly be an exciting way for a global audience to experience 바카라사이트 high-quality teaching of a selection of 바카라사이트 UK's top ranked universities.

"Students will gain access to some of 바카라사이트 most exciting teaching and learning opportunities offered by many of 바카라사이트 UK's leading universities."

Eric Thomas, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, which will also offer courses on Futurelearn, added: "In a world where people increasingly access content in a multiplicity of ways, it is only right that higher education can be accessed by alternative and complementary methods."

Although not named as one of 바카라사이트 institutions set to deliver courses on 바카라사이트 new platform, University of Cambridge vice-chancellor Leszek Borysiewicz said 바카라사이트 initiative was "exciting".

"Online education is becoming an important approach which may open substantial opportunities to those without access to conventional universities," he said.

The project has also been welcomed by government.

David Willetts, universities and science minister, said it was important for 바카라사이트 UK to be at 바카라사이트 forefront of developments in education technology.

"Moocs present an opportunity for us to widen access to, and meet 바카라사이트 global demand for, higher education. This is growing rapidly in emerging economies like Brazil, India and China.

"Futurelearn has 바카라사이트 potential to put 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 technology-for-learning agenda by revolutionising conventional models of formal education.

"New online delivery tools will also create incredible opportunities for UK entrepreneurs to reach world markets by harnessing technology and innovation in 바카라사이트 field of education."

A spokeswoman for The Open University said details about which courses will be available on Futurelearn will be confirmed in 바카라사이트 new year.

She also said that additional universities had expressed a "strong interest" in 바카라사이트 project, and new partners would be announced in due course.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com