Many of the most reputed institutes of higher learning have had to shut in-person learning, sending students home and shifting to online classes. In the bargain, they have realised how this virtual medium of instruction could help to reach more students across the world. Right now, many institutes such as the IIT Illinois have dispensed with the need to undergo GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL and similar tests to ease the way for more students.
There has been an exponential increase in e-classes and students are increasingly using eBooks to for in-class study as well as self-study. This has made education more accessible and also, importantly, affordable. The cost factor is a huge plus point in online courses – it can be up to three times cheaper to study online compared with on-campus fees.
Another factor that makes higher learning more accessible to students is flexibility. Students in other time zones from their teachers can ‘attend’ lectures at a time of their choosing. This can help in more thorough studying since the student can attend the lecture multiple times. This flexibility is important for working students or students who may have other pressures on their time.
According to Mr. Sri Kumar Panyam, Director India Operations, IIT, Illinois online students have much the same experience as in-campus students: the same course materials, the same assignments and projects. The exams are also conducted at the same time and students receive the same degree certificate at the end; but while paying just about one-third of the tuition.
Realising the necessities of the pandemic and the exigencies that so many students are facing all over the world, some top world universities are now offering some of their courses free. For instance, Harvard University offers free courses in game development, courses business, health & medicine, programming, humanities and more. Berkley, University of California, offers a range of free courses; to receive a verified certificate a small fee is charged. The Georgia Institute of Technology also has a range of free courses that students can take advantage of. Thought to be one of the top research universities in the world, the Michigan State University also offers free courses in journalism, game design, business education, photography, creative writing, music theory, scriptwriting and more. The California Institute of the Arts also has a range of open learning options in music theory, music technology, poetry, web design and more.
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