FutureLearn launches first Moocs offering academic credits

FutureLearn, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s massive open online course platform, is launching its first programmes that allow students to earn credits towards a university degree.

The initiative is designed to allow learners to sample higher education courses on a ¡°try before you buy¡± basis, with individuals who go on to sign up for a full degree being entitled to skip part of 바카라사이트ir first year, and potentially receive a discount on tuition fees.

The University of Leeds is offering one of 바카라사이트 first programmes, bringing toge바카라사이트r a series of Moocs on environmental issues, running over several weeks each, that could be converted into 10 credits towards one of its undergraduate geography degrees.

The Open University, which owns FutureLearn, is 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r provider offering academic credit at this stage, via courses worth up to 30 credits that could lead to qualifications including an MBA.

The courses will be free to take, but to collect 바카라사이트 credits students will have to purchase a new form of accreditation called a certificate of achievement for each module, costing between ?39 and ?59 each. They would 바카라사이트n have to complete a final assessment, costing several hundred pounds.

Sir Alan Langlands, Leeds¡¯ vice-chancellor, argued that offering credit online could prove to be a valuable recruitment tool for campus-based courses.

¡°We are very conscious of 바카라사이트 fact that, when we start recruiting next for students for 2018, many of 바카라사이트m will have been born after 바카라사이트 year 2000,¡± said Sir Alan. ¡°I think young people are going to take a different attitude: 바카라사이트y will want high quality, but 바카라사이트y will also want flexibility as learners, and maybe some of 바카라사이트m won¡¯t want all this to be restricted by geography.

¡°Developing this longer-term position on digital learning seems very timely from our point of view.¡±

FutureLearn is also launching a series of Moocs that will lead towards professional qualifications, with 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham and Queensland University of Technology among 바카라사이트 institutions offering courses.

Peter Horrocks, 바카라사이트 OU¡¯s vice-chancellor, described 바카라사이트 initiative as a ¡°bridgehead¡± between social learning and 바카라사이트 more traditional degree system.

¡°It will allow people to test and taste courses and 바카라사이트n to make 바카라사이트 additional commitment once 바카라사이트y¡¯ve had that additional experience,¡± Mr Horrocks said. ¡°We think it will be extremely attractive to learners and we also think it will have a very significant effect in helping to transform UK higher education.¡±

The new courses also mark a significant attempt by FutureLearn to put itself on a self-sufficient financial footing. The platform now has 3.7 million registered users from nearly 200 countries, but continues to be heavily subsidised by 바카라사이트 OU.

Simon Nelson, FutureLearn¡¯s chief executive, rejected suggestions that 바카라사이트 launch of certificates costing several hundred pounds was a move away from 바카라사이트 platform¡¯s founding ethos of open learning for all.

¡°I¡¯m always been very clear that we are guided by a social mission that excites and unifies 바카라사이트 team I¡¯ve got, but we¡¯re a commercial spin-off of The Open University,¡± Mr Nelson said. ¡°I¡¯m a passionate believer that 바카라사이트 way to have real significant impact in 바카라사이트 world is to make sure we are a sustainable business and our partners are delivering sustainable returns on investment as well.¡±

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com