University of Liverpool and Kaplan launch suite of new online programmes

The University of Liverpool has launched a suite of online postgraduate taught programmes under a new partnership with Kaplan Open Learning (KOL).

KOL was chosen as the preferred online course provider by the University after a highly competitive bidding process. The University and Kaplan already enjoy a highly successful partnership in the area of international student pathway provision through the University of Liverpool International College (LIC), one of the UK’s largest embedded pathway colleges.

The first programmes to be launched under the new partnership include an MSc in Artificial Intelligence, an MSc in Health Psychology, an MSc in Healthcare Leadership, an MSc in Sports Business and Management and a Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PGCAP).

Transnational education

The University is the largest provider of transnational education in the Russell Group and the fifth largest in the UK. Recognised as a pioneer in online education and a European market leader for wholly online postgraduate programmes, the University’s first online academic class took place in 2000 when 18 students – mostly from the Netherlands – began an MSc programme in Information Technology. It now has 15,000 online graduates in 171 countries.

The University’s online courses are delivered on a part-time, flexible basis and allow students to study 24/7 from anywhere in the world. Teaching is delivered using state-of-the-art technology and sector-leading pedagogy in online classrooms that transcend national boundaries and include students from across the globe, enriching learning and providing a unique student experience.

Significant milestone

Maintaining academic excellence and a high-quality educational experience for students were primary concerns for the University in new partner selection. KOL was established in 2007 and has attained a gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework for its online education provision. It consistently achieves high National Student Survey ratings with an average of 91% over the last five years.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Janet Beer, said: “This is a significant milestone for our partnership with Kaplan Open Learning and just the start of what we hope will be a wide-ranging high-quality portfolio of Liverpool programmes available to students all over the world.

“The University has a long and distinguished tradition of providing a first-class education at home, overseas and online. As part of our global vision we are committed to making our programmes accessible to students wherever they may be based – particularly those who may not otherwise be able to study at University.

“As we work towards becoming a top 100 global institution, we look forward to growing our portfolio with Kaplan Open Learning, reflecting our strengths in both education and research.”
Nicola Pittman, Managing Director, Kaplan Open Learning, said: “We are excited to introduce this initial suite of online programmes to the market. We are already planning more launches of new programmes that we plan to announce over the coming year.

“All of the online programmes will be career-focussed with an international flavour suitable for a global market. Programmes will be delivered on a part-time, flexible basis via our state-of-the-art learning platform and developed based on our sector leading online pedagogy.

“We are looking forward to the first student enrolments in 2020, and developing this new venture in our partnership with the University of Liverpool.”

Academic quality

Within the growth plan, the University and Kaplan have committed to ensure academic quality, admissions standards and high levels of student satisfaction, in order to help the University grow its global influence while protecting its academic integrity and reputation. KOL has the established UK and international infrastructure to deliver the university’s academic requirements, including online instruction and student support.

To find out more about our online programmes, please visit: https://online.liverpool.ac.uk/

To find out more about KOL, please visit: https://www.kaplanpathways.com/about/our-mission/kaplan-open-learning/