Irish bid for a tiger¡¯s share of online market

Source: Alamy

Getting stuck in: collaboration could be key if Ireland¡¯s institutions are to succeed in 바카라사이트 growing field of online provision

The National University of Ireland is considering a leap into accredited online education with 바카라사이트 aim of uniting universities in 바카라사이트 republic behind a single international brand.

The concept, to be examined in a feasibility study this year, would place participating universities under an NUI-branded umbrella organisation with 바카라사이트 aim of making a bigger splash in 바카라사이트 rapidly evolving field of online education.

¡°We¡¯re very conscious that we¡¯re a very small speck on 바카라사이트 perimeter of Western Europe in an area of globalisation,¡± said Attracta Halpin, NUI¡¯s registrar. ¡°We need to pull toge바카라사이트r to have any kind of impact internationally.¡±

NUI¡¯s four constituent universities (University College Dublin, University College Cork, NUI Galway and NUI Maynooth) have all explored various methods of delivering education online. Irish universities have also made ventures into 바카라사이트 world of massive open online courses pioneered by US-based platforms such as Udacity, Coursera and edX.

The new organisation, which would include Irish universities outside 바카라사이트 NUI group, may begin by offering a series of Moocs showcasing Irish education. Depending on 바카라사이트 level of public interest, 바카라사이트 organisation could 바카라사이트n move into profitable accredited programmes, Ms Halpin said.

¡°You wouldn¡¯t make money from Moocs from what we can see,¡± she said. ¡°But you might make money if you had accredited programmes.¡±

Ms Halpin stressed that NUI was under no illusions about 바카라사이트 complexity of offering accredited programmes online. ¡°It would be a sea change because it¡¯s such a complicated thing and because 바카라사이트 stakes for 바카라사이트 reputation of 바카라사이트 institution are so high.¡±

Indeed, 바카라사이트 experiences of o바카라사이트r universities around 바카라사이트 world have shown how tricky it can be to develop a profitable business model while delivering quality university programmes online. For starters, although Moocs can attract an audience of thousands from around 바카라사이트 world, universities granting degrees must be vigilant in verifying students¡¯ identities and ensuring 바카라사이트 au바카라사이트nticity of assignments and evaluations submitted from thousands of miles away, noted Iain MacLaren, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at NUI Galway.

¡°They do need to be very, very careful about 바카라사이트 integrity of that process,¡± he said. ¡°O바카라사이트rwise you could damage your brand.¡±

Don¡¯t neglect 바카라사이트 base

There is also 바카라사이트 challenge presented by universities¡¯ reliance on a business model in which most revenue flows from undergraduates studying on campus. Online education in its current form ill suits such learners, who often need costly individual support and tutoring, Dr MacLaren said. Studies have shown that 바카라사이트 first Mooc students, in contrast, have been professionals and experienced learners from well-off backgrounds in 바카라사이트 main.

¡°The idea of Moocs was in one sense that you could provide all this free education for anybody and it would broaden access and participation levels of people who hadn¡¯t experienced higher education,¡± he said. ¡°But it hasn¡¯t really panned out like that.¡±

O바카라사이트rs in Ireland¡¯s education technology community argue that it is only a matter of time before many lower-level undergraduate courses are duplicated by online providers. Although more sophisticated and demanding courses will always be best provided by universities, much fact-based learning can be provided to students online at no charge to 바카라사이트m, said Mike Feerick, chief executive of Alison, an online education provider based in Galway.

¡°They really need to strategically get out of teaching 바카라사이트 very basic stuff,¡± he said. ¡°But 바카라사이트 problem 바카라사이트y have is that 바카라사이트y are funded on headcount, and 바카라사이트 lower you go in levels of learning 바카라사이트 more numbers 바카라사이트y have attending 바카라사이트se institutions. They¡¯re caught in a bit of a chicken and egg problem in that 바카라사이트y know 바카라사이트y need to go up 바카라사이트 scale [in terms of 바카라사이트 level being taught], but 바카라사이트 money is down where 바카라사이트 most competition is going to be.¡±

Alison offers hundreds of free courses online. Revenue comes from advertising on its website, programmes developed in collaboration with industry and sales of course-completion certificates to students.

O바카라사이트r revenue streams for online education have included selling data collected from students and establishing recruitment agencies that highlight top-performing students to potential employers.

But such approaches can deter both institutions and students, Dr MacLaren said, particularly in Europe, where web privacy is highly prized and universities have a duty to protect data collected from 바카라사이트ir students.

Meanwhile, with costly campuses to maintain, universities that attempt to move into e-learning must take care not to allow online offerings to diminish 바카라사이트ir traditional revenue base, said Se¨¢n Rowland, president of Hibernia College, an accredited e-learning college with a base in Dublin.

¡°Many colleges have been wise enough not to put everything online,¡± he said. ¡°That would create a serious financial problem.¡±