[photopress:mba_online_education.jpg,full,alignright]UMass, a most ugly word, stands for the University of Massachusetts which is both difficult to spell and difficult to fit in a headline. Now the university is trying to start online courses to students in China and believes it is the pioneer in this.
UMass is working with China’s Continuing Education Association and CerEdu Corporation.
The program will include 40 courses, four certificate programs and one master’s degree. It could be made available in one year from now.
China’s ministry of education has final approval over any distance learning programs in the country and currently does not recognize college credits and degree credentials earned through foreign institutions’ distance learning programs.
[photopress:mba_UMASS.jpg,full,alignleft]David Gray, CEO of UMass Online, said , ‘This joint venture will position UMassOnline to receive the Ministry’s approval to provide online education and grant degrees throughout China.’
The problem is that online degree courses require an immense amount of dedication on the part of the student and, typically, take a long time. This is understandable if they have to fit in with the problems of working for a living and bringing up a family.
This is not to say that they are without value but the dropout rate is frightening. And, although it is an alternative to a normal degree taken full-time at an university, it is far from being an ideal solution. Which is possibly why the government has so far not given approval to such schemes.
Source: Boston Business Journal