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Online degrees clearing the way

It will be harder than ever to get a place during Clearing this year, experts have warned. Several universities announced their courses were full more than a week before the annual scramble to win last-minute places started. And to be in with a chance of getting a place, students will need top grades.

Dan Clements is studying Social Science at the OU

Dan Clements is studying Social Science at the OU

Given the difficulty of securing a place through Clearing this year, opting for an online course could be an attractive alternative. Grades will still need to be good but there are plenty of different undergraduate courses to choose from and places are far less restricted.

Institutions running the courses – mainly the Open University and the universities of London, Leicester, Hertfordshire, Derby and Essex, as well as private providers including Kaplan Open Learning – will accept applications long after the Clearing frenzy has died down.

The OU and the University of London International Programme have the most extensive range of undergraduate courses on offer. These include vocational degrees in subjects such as Accounting, Business, Laws and Computing but also more academic degrees in English, History, Languages International Relations and Theology. While Hertfordshire awards courses in various aspects of design, delivered online by private institution, the Interactive Design Institute.

The OU has seen an upturn in young people interested in studying online – a quarter of new students is under 25 and more than half work full-time. Start times for courses are fixed, but they usually run three times a year – October, February and May – so people can choose to take a course at a time that suits them. (Registration closes in September for courses starting in October). And students need not wait for A-level results to enrol because the courses are open access.

According to Christina Lloyd, Head of Teaching and Learner Support, record numbers of students are applying for university places because of the higher grades expected for university entry and fierce competition for graduate jobs. “We’re currently seeing how higher education is changing – the three-year full-time degree isn’t the whole story any more, as the true picture of higher education is much more varied,” she says.

“The balance is already shifting as students opt for other models of study such as part-time, and they often make positive choices about managing their own finances by choosing to work while they study and plan their careers.”

Dan Clements, a 19-year-old community policeman and OU student, is studying an Introduction to Social Science with a view to receiving a BSc in Criminology and Psychology. He thinks a degree would be relevant and a big help towards furthering his career.

“Fitting the work around my shifts proved to be a bit difficult to begin with, as when you’ve done a 10pm – 7am shift studying is the last thing you want to do when you get home,” he says. “However, I’ve managed to squeeze everything in so far and my employers have been really supportive – if there’s ever any quiet time (as there often is on a night shift) they don’t mind me pulling out my book and doing some work. They think it’s a great idea, even though you don’t need any formal qualifications to be a police officer. I’m constantly getting praise from the higher-ups for putting in the extra work and showing dedication to my career.”

Kaplan runs courses validated by the University of Essex in Business and Management, Criminal Justice and Financial Services that start monthly. The company recently won a bid for more government-backed student numbers so Brian Zotti, Executive Director of Operations, says new places are “in no danger of running out”.

Zotti says the clearing process can be daunting. Applicants may fail not only to find the kind of programme they want but also commit to huge living costs. That is if they secure a place at all, given the scarcity of places this year.

Zotti stresses the importance of finding out who will accredit the online degree and what level of support is provided. “Our students can take great pride in that they will be able to graduate with both a higher education degree which focuses on practical application as well as a professional qualification,” he explains. “In doing so, these students will be able to continue studying, seek out opportunities to work, and avoid graduating with staggering debt.”

Posted in Career, Undergraduate online degrees UK. Tagged with , .

I wish online learning existed 20 years ago!

“I work, study, manage three kids, do sport and enjoy my weekends to the fullest. I even travel loads and can still Mandy Moodley online student experiencestudy.”

UBIS (Switzerland) student, Mandy Moodley, living in Senegal, tells us about her experiences of studying online, whilst fitting in family life and her job.


Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am South African born, expatriated and living in Senegal.  I am 36 years old, married with two children aged 6 and 4. I am a licensed trainer for Stonebow in London and conduct trainings for them in West and Central Africa.  The training is for leadership, customer services, coaching, etc.

What are you studying, and where?
I am studying with UBIS.  I am doing an international relations degree.

What do you hope to achieve from studying this?
Expat life is boring, and my job keeps me occupied for limited periods of time, so I decided to study and hope to get a job in the UN some time in the future.

How are you enjoying the course?
I love it.  I find it way better than sitting in university lectures, on campus.

Describe what it is like to study online?
To study online, you really have to be disciplined and know how to manage your time.  In the beginning it was challenging but you eventually get the hang of things after a week or so.  The most vital tools for studying online is a good high speed computer and internet accessibility.  I even go on work travel and am still able to follow through because of internet accessibility in hotels and now all airports.  I keep in touch with other students through email as well as the chat box.  Its fun and we do not have to get too personal if we prefer not to.

The weeks study schedule is fairly balanced providing that you plan accordingly. I normally study 3 hours every morning at the office. I hand in weekly discussion questions by Wednesday and try to do my weekly test immediately after that while everything is still fresh in my head.  I complete my assignment by Friday so that I can have the weekends off for my kids. I work, study, manage three kids (the third is my husband), do sport and enjoy my weekends to the fullest. I even travel loads and can still study.

How easy is online learning easy to fit into your home/work life?
It is really easy. I have the perfect balance between home and work life. It is so convenient as I study at my own time and prioritise accordingly.

What would you say the main benefits of online learning are?

You manage your own study time.  It also encourages discipline and independence.  Not the same pressures as going to campus.

What attributes should you have to be a successful online student?
Discipline and good time management.

What advice would you give to potential online students?
Go for it.  It’s fun and even better than attending campus everyday.  You stay focused. You can also do other things at the same time. I wish that online learning existed 20 years ago.  I prefer online studying to campus life.

Would you recommend online learning as a study mode?
Yes, definitely

Would you recommend studying a BA in Internation Relations?
Yes, absolutely.  It unfolds your creativity. You have to figure things out on your own by conducting extensive research but at the same time being guided by your tutor.  It teaches you to think for yourself unlike campus when one gets side tracked easily and the lecturer spells out everything for you.

Posted in Online learning experience, Online student interviews. Tagged with , .

Student interview: Caroline onboard for her online MBA

Meet Caroline. She is someone you have to admire. Although her job requires that she spends most of her time at sea, managing over 300 staff on board a P&O Cruise Liner, Caroline is over half-way through her MBA, studying it online at the University Of Liverpool.

We were lucky enough to ask her about her study life, what it’s like to study her MBA online, and whether she would recommend studying an MBA.

Continued…

Posted in MBA, Online learning experience, Online student interviews.

150 Free Online Courses and Lectures in Business

It’s important to keep your skills sharp, and it’s not always possible to invest in improving your skills. We’ve put together a list of free business courses focussed on a variety of subject areas that will help you increase your own value to your company.

All the courses we’ve listed are from well-respected learning institutions such as MIT, UC Davis, Yale, and the Open University in the UK. The courses do not give you a formal qualification, so will benefit you in terms of skill but not merit.

Our list covers a wide range of business topics, such as management, business, strategy, marketing, ebusiness, creative thinking, entrepreneurship, leadership, ebusiness, human resources, accounting, economics and law.

If you are serious about skill and knowledge development in business, then you might want to consider studying a degree, diploma or certificate. See our online business degree directory for some options.

Management, Business & Strategy

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online business degree.

Entrepreneurship

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online entrepreneurship degree.

Marketing and Communications

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online marketing degree.

Creative Thinking and Innovation

E-Business

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online ebusiness degree.

Human Resources

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online human resources degree.

Careers and Personal Development

Economics

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online economics degree.

Accounting and Finance

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online finance degree or online accounting degree.

Information Technology

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online IT degree.

Business Law

Click here if you’re interested in studying an online law degree.

Posted in Free Online Courses.

UK Online MBAs prove popular

The Financial Times have published a list of forty international online MBAs, ranked by the number of students enrolled. It lists three UK online MBAs in the top five – Edinburgh Business School (Heriot Watt University) in second position, the Open University Business School in third and Henley Business School in forth. The University of Phoneix MBA is in first place (with an impressive 67,700 students), and Global U21 from Singapore is in fifth place.

The listing also tells you where the MBA is accredited, the percentage of materials which are online, and the percentage of students whom have completed the course after five years.

See it at: Online MBA 2009 Listing.

Posted in MBA.

10 reasons why online learning is becoming mainstream

From 2002 to 2008 more than 1.5m people joined the online student population. It had reached nearly 2m students by last year,  2008 (Eduventures Inc). Studying online is becoming mainstream because every year it is more widely accepted as a legimate method of learning to earn a degree. Indeed some would much prefer to study online, and others say it offers some of the virtues of the education systems developed in the 16th century Oxford and Cambridge.

To illustrate that online learning is becoming mainstream, we have have compiled a list of facts, reports and commentry about its adoption. We hope it gives you, the potential online student, confidence that you’re not alone!

  1. Online students are making up an increasing proportion of the total U.S. based students.

    According to Eduventures Inc. in 2008, the online education student market represented 10.6% of all students in the U.S. In 2013 it predict it will represent 18%.

  2. A significant number of U.S. college students are taking at least one web-based class.

    According to the Sloan Consortium, in fall 2007, 22 percent of U.S. college students took at least one web-based class.

  3. Online students perform better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.

    A recent study conducted for the United States’s Department of Education, examining research on online versus traditional classroom teaching from 1996 to 2008, found that “on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.

  4. The number of people studying online is increasing.

    3.94 million people were enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2007, up 12.9% from 2006 (Sloan Consortium). This increase is up from a 9.7% increase the previous year (Sloan Consortium). Therefore online learning enrolements grew faster in 2007 than 2006.

  5. Online student numbers are growing faster than overall higher education enrolements.

    This 9.7% growth rate for online enrolments, during the fall 2006 term, far exceeded the 1.5 percent growth of the overall higher education student population (Sloan Consortium).

  6. Online learning offers more personalized learning.

    Some argue that online learning more closely resembles the “tutorial system” pioneered at Oxford and Cambridge in the 16th Century, “nurturing young minds one to one, inquiring, prodding and encouraging.” (NY Times). Research shows that the tutorial system results in the best student performance.

    As outlined in a recent article in the New York Times, the technology that delivers online learning enables a closer, ongoing interaction with tutors and teachers. This allows more one-on-one teaching, offering to some extent, the benefits of the tutorial system.

  7. More US colleges are offering distance education courses.

    In the 2006–07 academic year, 66 percent of the 4,160 accredited US colleges offered college-level distance education courses (National Centre for Education Statistics).

  8. Employers are more accepting of online degrees.

    In general, there is research and commentary indicating that employers are becoming more likely to hold an online degree in the same esteem as a campus-based one. As their understanding of elearning and the technologies that delivers it (e.g. video streaming on YouTube) grows, and as they appreciate the value it offers their business (by providing their staff with better access to education), then it is thought that they will become more accepting of it.

    According to a survey conducted by Excelsior College/Zogby International in January 2008, among those who are familiar with online or distance learning programs, more than four in five (83%) strongly believe that a degree earned via an online program is as credible as one earned through a traditional campus-based program.

    Further, a survey organised by the Society of Human Resource Management in 2007, that gained 425 responses from randomly selected human resource professionals, revealed that 71 percent of companies reimburse their employees for degrees earned online from regionally accredited and/or professionally accredited higher education institutions and programs. This indicates that nearly 3/4 of employers are willing to invest in online learning.

    Richard Garrett, senior research analyst for Eduventures, explains that most employers today have no qualms about the quality of online education. “If you ask employers about their sense of the quality of online education — is it of equal quality to traditional — the response you typically get is a growing adherence to it being of equal quality.”

  9. The U.S. Department of Education sees the importance of online learning.

    The Department of Education recently announced that it was developing a new National Educational Technology Plan to provide a “vision of how information and communications technologies can help transform American education.” (NY Times)

  10. The U.S. and the world needs more educated people to increase productivity, and living standards.

    Kaplan University’s new advertising campaign says “the world needs talent more than ever”. They say: “talent just isn’t in schools, it’s everywhere”. Online learning enables better access to education so more can realise the benefits of a more advanced education.

Posted in Online learning.

10 Websites To Make You Think

Supposedly browsing the internet requires more brain power than watching television. Although judging from some of the websites we’ve come across that assumption is cast into doubt. Here’s some of the sites we like that might get your brain to sit up and listen.


TED

A conference that started in 1984 bringing together experts in technology, entertainment and design quickly grew into so much more. The conference itself is invitation only, but the website features all the talks at the conference in high res video format.

New Scientist

The New Scientist website carries new articles from the magazine as well as the NS archive of over 76,000 pieces.


Big Think

The Big Think website is a collection of ‘global thought leaders’ who offer their thoughts and analysis on world events and other important developments


Cafe Scientifique

‘for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology’

The idea behind Cafe Scientifique is that anyone can go to one of the many events organised throughout the world for a layman’s explanation of a scientific subject by a scientist involved in the area.


Breathing Earth

This fantastic website by David Bleja demonstrates CO2 emissions and world population growth in real time on a global map.


XKCD

It is a web comic, but it’s in a league of its own. XKCD by Randall Munroe (A former NASA contractor). The comics follow a theme of ‘romance, sarcasm, math and language.’


Arts & Letters Daily

A great collection of articles, essays, disputes and reviews by a select collection of bloggers and publications.


How Stuff Works

An enormous website that explains the workings of everything from electronics to déjà vu.


Academic Earth

Free university video courses spanning a range of subjects including history, chemistry and computer science.


Eyewitness To History

A collection of eyewitness accounts and media from the ancient world through to modern history.

Posted in Education.

Harvard Meets Hollywood. Celebrities Who Went To College

When you look at the shiny white smiles walking the red carpet into their blockbuster movie premieres you may not realise that there is also a college degree in that dinner jacket.

Natalie_Portman

Natalie Portman

Psychology BSc, Harvard
Guest Lecturer, Columbia University

Natalie didn’t make the premiere of Star Wars Episode I because she was studying for her high school finals. She then went on to study Psychology at Harvard whilst filming the subsequent Star Wars titles. She’s quoted as saying “I’d rather be smart than a movie star.”

Wikipedia | IMDB | Official Site

Denzel_Washington

Denzel Washington

Drama and Journalism BA, Fordham University
American Conservatory Theater, San Fransisco

Washington’s academic career initially lacked any real focus. He was originally interested in attending Texas Tech University because the college football team shared the same name and a similar uniform to his high school’s own side. A change of heart led him to Fordham.

Washington dropped out of Fordham for a semester to work as a counselor at an overnight summer camp in Lakeville CT. During his time as a counselor he took part in a staff talent show where somebody casually suggested he think about a career as an actor. With renewed enthusiasm, Washington returned to Fordham and enroled on acting courses and gained the lead roles in several plays where critics loved him. After graduating Washington spent a year at the American Conservatory Theaer in San Fransisco before leaving to start his acting career in New York.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Kevin_Costner

Kevin Costner

Business BA, California State University (Fullerton)

Costner discovered his love of acting during his college years, but didn’t pursue it as a profession until after graduation. A chance meeting with Richard Burton on a flight during Costner’s honeymoon gave him some perspective. A job he was due to start in marketing lasted just a month before he took to acting professionally.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Official Site

Donald_Sutherland

Donald Sutherland

Double major in Engineering and Drama, University of Toronto
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art

After graduating from the University of Toronto with a double major in Engineering and Drama, Sutherland set his sights on a career as an engineer, considering acting as more of a hobby. Although after spending some time in a Toronto comedy troupe called “UC Follies”, he found his true calling and moved to London to study at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Cate_Blanchett

Cate Blanchett

Economics and Fine Arts, University of Melbourne
National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney

Blanchett’s interest in acting goes back to her secondary/high school years in Melbourne. After graduating from the University of Melbourne, Blanchett travelled to Egypt where she was asked to be a film extra. On her return to Australia she enroled at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney to pursue a career as an actor.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Fan Site

Renee_Zellweger

Renée Zellweger

English BA, University of Texas at Austin

After high school (where she was on the cheerleader team and voted ‘best looking’ of her 1987 graduating class), Zellweger went on to study English at the University of Texas. She had no intention on a career in acting until she took a drama course to make up the credits she needed for her English degree. The course made her realise how much she enjoyed acting and after graduating she sought a career in acting in and around the Houston area, starring in at least one beef commercial before Hollywood came calling.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Fan Site

Forest_Whitaker

Forest Whitaker

Acting BA, University of Southern California
Drama Studio London, Berkeley, California

Whitaker initially went to Cat Poly Pomona on a football scholarship, but after a back injury he sustained during a training session, Whitaker transferred to University of Southern California to study acting and opera as a tenor. Subsequently he was accepted into the university’s Drama Conservatory which helped in turn him win a scholarship to the Berkeley, California branch of the Drama Studio London.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Tommy_Lee_Jones

Tommy Lee Jones

English BA, Harvard

Jones is a Harvard graduate. He was roommates with Al Gore and John Lithgow. Jones played offensive tackle on Harvard’s undefeated 1968 varsity football team. He graduated cum laude in 1969.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Jerry_Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld

Communications and Theatre BA, Queens College, City University of New York

Seinfeld attended SUNY Oswego but transferred to Queens College after his sophomore year. He developed an interest in stand-up comedy during his time at college, and after graduation tried out at an open mic night, leading him to an appearance on a Rodney Dangerfield HBO special.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Adam_Sandler

Adam Sandler

Fine Arts BA, New York University

Like Jerry Seinfeld, Sandler started performing at stand-up nights during his college years. Known for making references to his youth in his work, his song ‘Lunchlady Land’ is about Emalee, the lunchlady at Hayden Dining Hall at New York University.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Official Site

Matthew_McConnoughey

Matthew McConaughey

Film Direction, University of Texas at Austin

A member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at the University of Texas, McConaughey balanced his acting career and education whilst at university. He was still studying when he filmed Dazed and Confused. He graduated in 1993.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Official Site

Maggie_Gyllenhaal

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Literature and Eastern Religions BA, University of Columbia
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London

The daughter of a director and screenwriter, there was a fair chance Gyllenhaal would pursue a career in the movies. Before her career as an actress, Gyllenhaal studied Literature and Eastern Religions at the University of Columbia.  Interestingly her brother Jake also enroled on the same program, but didn’t graduate. After graduating in 1999 she went on to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.

Wikipedia | IMDB

David_Duchovny

David Duchovny

English Literature BA, Princeton
English Literature MA, Yale

Duchovny’s possibly one of the more academically distinguished member of Hollywood society. Alumni to two of America’s top colleges, he has also received praise from the Academy of American Poets for his poetry. Duchovny almost completed a Phd. The title of his doctoral thesis was “Magic and Technology in Contemporary Poetry and Prose.”

Wikipedia | IMDB | Fan Site

Jodie_Foster

Jodie Foster

Literature BA, Yale

Foster had a rough time at Yale, where she was agressively stalked by John Hinckley Jr. He went on to attempt to assassinate then president Ronald Reagan, claiming that his motivation was that he wanted to impress Foster. The unwanted media attention meant she was constantly chased by the press through campus, leading her to take a year-long leave of absence.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Ashley_Judd

Ashley Judd

French BA, University of Kentucky

Judd majored in French, and minored in anthropology, art history, theatre and women’s studies. As part of her major she spent a semester in France. She graduated in 2007, although mistakingly believed she was a few credits short of graduating. During an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show, DeGeneres presented Judd with her diploma. She’s now continuing her education at Harvard.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Will_Ferrell

Will Ferrell

Sports Information BSc, University of Southern California

Ferrell studied sports broadcasting at USC graduating in 1990. Although he realised his own talent for comedy from an early age, Ferrell only joined a comedy group after graduating from USC as a member of The Groundlings.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Funny or Die

Eva_Longoria_Parker

Eva Longoria Parker

Kinesiology BSc, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Eva originally set out to be a model, but was rejected because of her height (she’s a pint-sized 5′2″). Accepting she may not be destined for fame, she completed a degree in kinisiology (the study of human movement) at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. After college Eva won a talent contest that took her to LA. In LA she was spotted by a theatrical agent her career as an actor took off.

Wikipedia | IMDB

Tim_Allen

Tim Allen

Television Production BA, Western Michigan University

Allen’s notorious cocaine problem blighted his college years. He graduated from WMU in 1975 to set out as a comedian, although further problems with drugs led to his arrest in 1978 and a two year custodial sentence.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Official Site

Meryl_Streep

Meryl Streep

Drama BA, Vassar College
Drama MFA, Yale School of Drama

Streep attended Vassar College, a private liberal arts college in Poughkeepsie, New York. She was briefly tutored by Jean Arthur (movie actor from the 1940s known for her ’screwball comedy’ roles). She was an exchange student at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire for a short time, and eventually enrolled at Yale School of Drama where she earned an MFA.

Wikipedia | IMDB | Official Site

Lisa_Kudrow

Lisa Kudrow

Biology BS, Vassar College

Like Meryl Streep, Kudrow also attended Vassar College. She gained a degree in biology there with the intention to assist her father’s research into headaches (her father is Dr Lee N. Kudrow, a physician and headache researcher). She was on her father’s research team for eight years, earning her a research credit for his study on the comparative likelihood of left-handed individuals developing cluster headaches (Kudrow is left-handed herself).

Her brother’s childhood friend Jon Lovitz convinced her to join The Groundlings comedy group (joining Will Ferrell).

Wikipedia | IMDB

Posted in Education.

Quotes On Education

“Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.”

Douglas Adams
Douglas Adams (1952 – 2001)
British Author


“It is possible to store the mind with a million facts and still be entirely uneducated.”

Aleck Bourne (1886 – 1974)
British Gynecologist and Writer


“A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary.”

Thomas Carruthers (? – 1925)
British Physician


“Education, therefore, is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.”

John Dewey (1859 - 1952)
John Dewey (1859 – 1952)
American Philosopher, Psychologist, and Educational Reformer


“Education is the transmission of civilization.”

Will and Ariel Durant
Will (1885 – 1981) and Ariel (1898 – 1981) Durant
American and Russian/American Authors


“It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.”

einstein
Albert Einstein (1879 – 1955)
German/Swiss/American Theoretical Physicist


“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.”

Malcom Forbes
Malcolm Forbes  (1919 – 1990)
American Publisher


“Remember that our nation’s first great leaders were also our first great scholars.”

John F Kennedy
John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963)
American President


“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.”

CS Lewis
C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963)
British Writer and Academic


“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865)
American President


“Study as if you were going to live forever; live as if you were going to die tomorrow.”

Maria Mitchell
Maria Mitchell (1818 – 1889)
American Astronomer


“All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973)
Spanish Artist


“Ye can lead a man up to the university, but you can’t make him think.”

Finley Peter Dunne
Finley Peter Dunne (1867 – 1936)
American Author


“The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.”

Carl Rogers
Carl Rogers (1902 – 1987)
American Psychologist


“I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.”

Socrates
Socrates (469 BC – 399 BC)
Classical Greek Philosopher


“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

Alvin Toffler
Alvin Toffler (b. 1928)
American Writer and Futurist


“A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.”

Anonymous


“A professor is one who talks in someone else’s sleep.”

Anonymous

Posted in Education, Life-long learning. Tagged with , .

Concern in rise of "Life Experience" degree scams

We’ve noticed a growing number of websites offering life experience degrees in the last few months. These are websites selling degrees on the premise that your life experience could earn you a degree. The catch is that you also must pay thousands of dollars for the paperwork to come through.

As you may suspect, your life experience cannot earn you a degree outright. Worryingly, these websites are popping up more and more in searches for ‘online degrees’ and similar keywords.

Some accredited programs take your work experience into account in order to compensate for a lack of conventional qualifications. Although this would be in order to gain entry to the college, not for automatic completion of the program.

A degree, by definition, is an award attained through academic achievement – it has nothing to do with life experience. Employers do not accept life experience degrees. Aside from a novelty value, life experience degrees are worthless.

Study2U will only list accredited online degrees. We make every effort to ensure that we only list awards with high academic standards and the best career prospects.

There is no such thing as an accredited degree you don’t have to study for. Please be careful and avoid these scams!

For further information and examples, follow these links:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/PersonalFinance/story?id=8322412&page=1
http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp?S=10986669

Posted in Online learning, Online learning experience.

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