The University of LIverpool has joined a new initiative that offers learners around the world access to free, high quality courses provided by internationally renowned higher education institutions.
FutureLearn, owned by The Open University, will allow people to learn actively by engaging in conversations around learning material, or vicariously, by following discussions. It has also been designed to work on smart phones, tablets and desktop computers.
The Open University
As the first UK-led provider of massive open online courses (MOOCs), it combines elements of the social web with The Open University’s expertise in distance and open learning.
Learners will be able to sign up for a selection of courses from FutureLearn’s university partners, with learner feedback used to inform the on-going development of the website. So far learners from over 165 countries have registered their interest in taking a course on FutureLearn.
Professor Kelvin Everest, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Student Experience, said: “This new initiative has considerable potential for recruitment to formal programmes of all kinds, by providing free ‘tasters’ for prospective students, and can be focussed to address significant skills gaps in the economy. It may also go some way to meeting the world’s exploding demand for higher education courses.”
“We will now be approaching the Faculties to propose a number of topics as potential first MOOC’s.”
Launch
Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said, “The launch of FutureLearn is an exciting development for UK learning. MOOCs provide the opportunity to widen access to our world class Universities and to meet the global demand for higher education.
For more information on the FutureLearn programme please visit: https://www.futurelearn.com/
