Unusual for me to look to the Daily Mail for guidance but I have bought a copy today. Front page backing Open University, spills over two pages, plus editorial. So expanding on posts for the Radio event as some issues may turn out to be related.
First some notes from the paper, then some info about Futurelearn.
OU problems traced to government policy on fees , 28% fall in student numbers from 2011 -2016, estimate of 600,000 over the period. Change in policy supported by Lord Willetts, minister at the time of the decision, Support also from Robert Halfon MP - OU "the most important educational institution in our country". He is chair of the Education Select Committee.
Vote today on confidence in vice-chancellor Peter Horrocks. Criticism of £100m cuts from £420m budget. £50m to expand digital ( I have also heard that £70m is for digital ) Ross Clark commentary mentions Horrocks lecture on the traditional "Fortress University" and aim to evolve into "University our working ivesof the Cloud". Ross Clark supports a vision of university education "we dip in and out of through our working lives - not something to tuck under our belts before we even get our first job."
Futurelearn is not mentioned as such though Ross Clark says that Horrocks wants to move quickly "before American universities team up with social media sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn" taking business from UK. This is where I can add something from previous posts.
The MOOC has not been well reported in UK press. A bit of mocking to start with but not much recently. The trend as been towards more vocational topics and some monetised certificates. Degrees are now available. See reports from Class Central.
There is much more global joint working than just USA / UK competition. Futurelearn has courses from USA universities. London courses on Coursera, Oxford on EdX.
LinkedIn Learning already exists. Content not exactly branded as from a specific university. They were at Learning Technologies in Olympia as were O'Reilly, now moving beyond online book subs to video and support. Coursera wanted to meet companies as they develop content to meet skills required. They work with research on AI etc. So the model of continuing education fits with people who need to upgrade and maintain knowledge.
So far the OU has funded Futurelearn out of existing budget. No government subsidy, no venture capital, very little media support. A talk at South by SouthWest from Class Central suggested some numbers on income expected as MOOC platforms start to promote degrees. No info on Futurelean but maybe print journalists could do some investigation?
Spotify recently valued at over $20b while still in loss. How to value the MOOC platform? They also have a lot of audience paying nothing and a proportion subscribing or paying for a course. Education not as massive as music but can be more expensive.
Based on Class Central reports Futurelearn may be in the top 5 or top 10 including non English language. Looking at history of music streaming things can change. But Futurelearn could be an asset sometime soon with support. Bit vague but this draft.
Note for editors, OhnmNews style assumes a range of other reports more or less similar and quickly updated.
By the way, some form of learning happens on Facebook. Might be called "user experience". Research needed.
Lectures from Durham IAS turn up on YouTube but with a delay. Recent one on science funding shows business studies on topic for HE.
June 9th meeting Management Theory at Work in Radio , looking at digital disruption in radio, compare education.
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