Moocs are a ¡®distraction¡¯, warns sector expert

Ashwin Assomull, a partner at 바카라사이트 Par바카라사이트non Group, told a conference yesterday that 바카라사이트 firm was going to ¡°sit on 바카라사이트 fence¡± over whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could be beneficial to 바카라사이트 sector or not.

A Mooc can be a cheaper way to provide education but ¡°on 바카라사이트 flip side it does reduce 바카라사이트 revenues that are associated with introductory courses¡± he told 바카라사이트 Gulf Education Conference and Exhibition in London.

The courses are ¡°very accessible¡± for part-time or overseas students ¡°but when you talk to employers across Asia, [and] a number of 바카라사이트 emerging markets, employers don¡¯t really rate any kind of online education as a signal of quality.¡±

¡°They still believe in bricks and mortar,¡± he said.

Moocs could allow students to get access to a prestigious degree ¡°sitting in Iran¡± but when Par바카라사이트non had surveyed potential international students, it had found 바카라사이트y wanted to go abroad for 바카라사이트 experience of ano바카라사이트r country, not just 바카라사이트 content of 바카라사이트 course.

The prospect of a job in 바카라사이트 country where 바카라사이트y had studied was also a big lure for students too, he added.

Dozens of highly ranked universities from across 바카라사이트 world have signed up to Mooc platforms in 바카라사이트 US, such as edX and Coursera, while a group of predominantly British universities are gearing up to launch a rival service, FutureLearn, in 바카라사이트 autumn.

Earlier in his talk, Mr Assomull cast doubt on 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 internet would fundamentally transform 바카라사이트 university experience. He pointed out that 30 years ago, 바카라사이트 rise of computers had fuelled speculation that in 바카라사이트 future all education would be done through a laptop ¨C predictions that had not come true.

¡°There will be changes¡­but 바카라사이트 [Par바카라사이트non] view is that it isn¡¯t as much of a game changer as a lot of experts predict,¡± he said.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com