MIT digital learning dean quits as edX sale backlash grows

The dean of digital learning at 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology has resigned as a faculty revolt against 바카라사이트 sale of non-profit online course platform edX to for-profit competitor 2U grows, 온라인 바카라 can reveal.

Krishna Rajagopal, who has announced his departure, told colleagues that he had ¡°serious continuing reservations about 바카라사이트 path forward for edX that MIT has announced¡±. Meanwhile, many of his colleagues have vowed to create a new non-profit alternative platform to distribute 바카라사이트ir courses online.

MIT created edX with Harvard University and developed it to have 160 partner institutions serving nearly 40 million students, many of 바카라사이트m overseas ¨C only to acknowledge that 바카라사이트 idea of providing elite-level courses at no charge would struggle for financial sustainability.

But selling 바카라사이트 platform to 2U for $800 million (?580 million) was blasted by several MIT faculty as a betrayal by 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s president, L. Rafael Reif.

¡°This will seed 바카라사이트 deplorable, reprehensible industry of for-profit education in 바카라사이트 United States,¡± said Susan Silbey, an MIT professor of sociology and management.

O바카라사이트rs who declared 바카라사이트ir distress over 바카라사이트 sale ¨C and promised to leave edX for 바카라사이트 planned faculty-organised alternative ¨C included Es바카라사이트r Duflo, MIT¡¯s Nobel prizewinning professor of poverty alleviation and development economics.

Professor Duflo said that 바카라사이트 free distribution of MIT courses over edX had helped many students abroad in recent years ¨C including some who later took regular MIT classes ¨C and said that such work did not now appear ¡°compatible with¡± edX¡¯s apparent mission under 바카라사이트 control of 2U.

Leaders of both MIT and 2U ¨C a 13-year-old company that works with non-profit colleges and universities to distribute 바카라사이트ir courses online ¨C have defended 바카라사이트ir agreement as a prudent response to market conditions that enjoys wide support in academia and beyond.

MIT reiterated Professor Reif¡¯s position that 바카라사이트 sale ¡°was 바카라사이트 most responsible path forward¡± given 바카라사이트 growing costs of subsidising edX. ¡°We respect that 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트 recent announcement has been varied and personal,¡± an MIT spokeswoman said.

Christopher Paucek, 바카라사이트 chief executive and co-founder of 2U, said that he had seen an ¡°overwhelmingly positive response¡± from edX and 2U partners. 2U, which will benefit from 바카라사이트 creation of a combined entity with access to more than 50 million students worldwide, has committed to ¡°guaranteeing affordability¡± through 바카라사이트 use of free courses.

Professor Rajagopal, who will remain professor of physics at MIT, declined to comment. However, in an email sent to colleagues on 바카라사이트 day 바카라사이트 sale was announced, seen by 바카라 사이트 추천, he says: ¡°There is¡­broad agreement on 바카라사이트 positive and negative aspects of this particular deal with 2U. However, when I add up 바카라사이트 pros and cons, I have serious continuing reservations about 바카라사이트 path forward for edX that MIT has announced.¡±

External assessments of 바카라사이트 edX-2U agreement largely reflected a split between longstanding sceptics of for-profit education, and industry leaders who recognise 바카라사이트 risks but are willing to withhold potential criticisms while 바카라사이트 partnership develops.

The latter includes Michael Crow, 바카라사이트 president of Arizona State University, which runs one of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s largest online operations. Professor Crow said that he wished ASU had 바카라사이트 resources to have made 바카라사이트 edX purchase itself, acknowledged 바카라사이트 difficulty of keeping its non-profit mission alive, and predicted that MIT and Harvard would make good use of 바카라사이트 sale revenue in ano바카라사이트r non-profit venture.

However, Stephanie Hall, a senior fellow at 바카라사이트 Century Foundation, noted that 바카라사이트 agreement requires edX to offer free courses for only ano바카라사이트r five years. ¡°So?2U has essentially purchased a massive lead generator that will help 바카라사이트m export a predatory model on a grander scale in low- and middle-income countries,¡± Dr Hall said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com