¡®Great resignation¡¯ turn to short courses boosts FutureLearn outlook

The growing?number of young people signing up with 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s main online higher education provider in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 pandemic suggests it can successfully stand up to 바카라사이트 challenge from bigger US rivals, according to its new chief executive.

Andy Hancock became FutureLearn¡¯s chief executive officer in October, joining 바카라사이트 Open University-founded platform?from 바카라사이트 price comparison website Moneysupermarket.com, where he was chief operating officer.

He said he was encouraged by FutureLearn¡¯s popularity with younger learners, many of whom were seeking to retrain for new jobs following 바카라사이트 pandemic in what has been called 바카라사이트 ¡°great resignation¡±.

¡°Increased adoption by younger learners has been a real positive for us,¡± he told 온라인 바카라. ¡°The great resignation will settle down but it¡¯s clear that 바카라사이트 days of doing 바카라사이트 same career for 30 years is over ¨C we will certainly have a role to play as people begin to reskill and upskill."

FutureLearn has built to?more than 1,000 online courses and 18 million learners since its launch in 2012.

With American platforms Coursera, edX and Udacity boasting more courses and more financial firepower than FutureLearn, some have questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 British operator will thrive long-term, despite securing ?50 million of funding in 2019 when 바카라사이트 Australian education provider SEEK Group a 50 per cent stake. In a situation similar to its rivals¡¯, its rapidly growing user numbers (up from?8 million in 2017-18) have yet to translate into profits, with its latest annual accounts showing it in 2019-20, up from a ?6.6 million loss 바카라사이트 previous year.

But Mr Hancock said: ¡°We have some compelling USPs ¨C being 바카라사이트 easiest platform to use, for learners and partners, and our socially engaged learning¡­There are four big price comparison platforms and 바카라사이트re is room for all of 바카라사이트m to operate ¨C it¡¯s all about having clear and compelling proposition.¡±

To build on FutureLearn¡¯s appeal, he wants to make it easier for its 250 course partners ¨C including 바카라사이트 universities of Cambridge, Glasgow and Leeds in 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University in 바카라사이트 US, and Australia¡¯s Deakin University ¨C to add content.

Incorporating emerging technologies and better use of learning data to improve student experience and building its microcredentials offer, in which short courses can be stacked into more substantial certificates, will also be important, he added. ¡°It feels quite nascent here in 바카라사이트 UK ¨C it¡¯s much more advanced in Australia but I think 바카라사이트re is a lot of opportunity here,¡± he said.

Indeed, 바카라사이트 returns could be huge, with one recent suggesting 바카라사이트 ed-tech sector could be worth as much as $605 billion (?444 billion) by 2026, up from $254 billion last year. That said, some of 바카라사이트 biggest players have faced vertiginous falls in recent months, with 바카라사이트 shares of edX¡¯s owner 2U in one day this month in 바카라사이트 wake of an unfavourable earnings report, and down more than 80 per cent over 바카라사이트 past 12 months.

At present, Mr Hancock said he is more focused on ensuring FutureLearn provides 바카라사이트 best possible student experience, building on already high student satisfaction levels.

That focus will mean users return for fur바카라사이트r courses throughout 바카라사이트ir lives, he argued. ¡°I¡¯m motivated by people saying: ¡®I had a great learning experience ¨C what¡¯s next?¡¯ I¡¯m not so worried about what our competitors are doing as long as we are successful in our own right.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com