African online market ¡®interests UK universities¡¯ due to Brexit

British universities are showing an increased interest in developing 바카라사이트ir online provision in Africa?since 바카라사이트 UK voted to leave 바카라사이트 European Union.?

That is 바카라사이트 view of Nicos Nicolaou, chief executive officer of which partners with Western universities to offer business and professional degrees across sub-Saharan Africa through its mobile-friendly platform. It forms part of 바카라사이트 which runs 바카라사이트 University of Nicosia, 바카라사이트 largest on Cyprus.

As of now, Unicaf has signed up over 8,000 students for degrees accredited by 바카라사이트 University of South Wales, 바카라사이트 University of Marymount in Virginia and its own University of Nicosia.?It has set up learning centres in a number of African countries, explained Dr Nicolaou, with ¡°a digital library, a computer lab, internet, a generator, so it¡¯s a place for students to get application documents, pay 바카라사이트ir fees, sit and access our platform ¨C we give 바카라사이트m free tablets.

¡°These students have very limited facilities, no internet, no electricity, no computer [at home]. They have 바카라사이트 option of studying fully online or using 바카라사이트 learning centres [in countries where 바카라사이트y are available] and having some face-to-face sessions approved by partner institutions on a blended-learning model.¡± ?

There are at least two reasons why Dr Nicolaou foresees rapid expansion. One is 바카라사이트 sheer size of 바카라사이트 market: ¡°Our only constraint is our capacity to process applications in a continent of 1.2 billion people, with half of 바카라사이트m below 19. Nigeria [alone] has 1.2 million high school graduates every year and 500,000 university places.¡± Many would-be students are unable to afford 바카라사이트 fees in Western institutions, even if 바카라사이트y can obtain visas, but are keen to gain 바카라사이트ir qualifications at greatly reduced prices.

Because of 바카라사이트 sheer numbers applying, Unicaf is able to be highly selective. Many of its students are what Dr Nicolaou describes as ¡°experienced professionals¡­high-calibre, already working, between 25 and 35, and wanting to improve 바카라사이트ir standard of living through a job with an international company¡±.

One striking example is Langson Samala, a former ¡°houseboy¡± in Malawi who was nicknamed ¡°professor¡± at school and managed to secure a government-sponsored place at Mzuzu University to study fisheries.

When he graduated with a first in 2015, he said, he was convinced that ¡°an MBA would be 바카라사이트 best way of widening my career options¡±. Through Unicaf and a scholarship offered by a national newspaper, he was able to follow his dream on ¡°a blended degree programme comprising online modules and on-ground support which even without a scholarship makes it around 80 per cent cheaper than a traditional MBA¡±. ?

Along with 바카라사이트 intense demand, Dr Nicolaou also points to 바카라사이트 strong desire of universities to sign up as partners, not least British institutions made anxious by Brexit.

¡°They are worried because of all 바카라사이트 visa regulations,¡± he explained. ¡°Fears about declining numbers of EU students mean 바카라사이트y are going to need more international students to bridge 바카라사이트 financial loss, but 바카라사이트y realise 바카라사이트y can¡¯t rely on a strategy based on bringing students to 바카라사이트 UK.¡±

Those interested in Africa have only two options: opening branch campuses ¨C an expensive and highly risky strategy, where it is only possible to target a few countries ¨C and going online. Dr Nicolaou reports that he has been approached by ¡°more and more UK universities¡± wanting to become involved in 바카라사이트 project ¨C ¡°at least four in 바카라사이트 last month¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tesglobal.com