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The run-up to London 2012: How now could be the best time to study business The planning and development of the London Olympic Games in 2012 have been ongoing for some time now, but it may be surprising to some that there is still nearly three years to go until the opening ceremony. Plenty of time, then, for any budding business men and women to seize the opportunity - but what opportunity exactly? So what are the business benefits to being the host nation? Higher Education in 2009: What is a degree course actually worth? As thousands of prospective students embark on a three year career of higher education, much has been written about the lack of suitable jobs currently available for graduates, and the amount of debt students enrolling now will incur by the time they have finished their studies. Education 2009: The importance of integrating business with higher education. The recession has had a significant impact on higher education in the UK, and has subsequently caused many to speak out about how degree courses are funded, and how much they are worth to both students and the economy as a whole. Specifically, the reason many are looking at the higher education system with a more critical eye is because of the sudden hike in enrolment numbers as many older people are applying for university courses to improve their employability, at the same time as many institutions suffer cutbacks in order to save on funds. Doing it for the Adults: Adult education and lifelong learning in 2009 The general importance and specific merits of adult education have been increasingly discussed in the press over the last year. Of course, there are numerous reasons for this growing interest - the most obvious being the many sudden recession-fuelled enrolments to universities by adults over the last six months - as older learners seek to spruce up their CVs and to make themselves more employable. Unsure about university? Consider a distance learning course If you didn't get the A-Levels you needed for your university choices, or even if you did and just can't bear the thought of being in £23,000 worth of debt in three years time, then it doesn't mean that further education is out of your reach. In fact, you are probably of the generation with the biggest choice of non-uni further education opportunities to date. So what choices do you have? Lifelong Learning in the UK: The next logical step UK education standards are frequently subject to debate, especially during the later summer months. Of course, in the UK, August is the time that many students receive their A-Level results - and despite the likelihood that even the most hardened critic would hope that as many would receive the grades they want, it seems that when the percentage of A grades increases year on year (and 2009 is no exception), the entire education system comes under renewed scrutiny. So are the changing education standards good or bad? Lifelong Learning in the UK: The next logical step UK education standards are frequently subject to debate, especially during the later summer months. Of course, in the UK, August is the time that many students receive their A-Level results - and despite the likelihood that even the most hardened critic would hope that as many would receive the grades they want, it seems that when the percentage of A grades increases year on year (and 2009 is no exception), the entire education system comes under renewed scrutiny. So are the changing education standards good or bad? As swine flu worsens in the UK, do schools really need to have a distance learning plan in place? The risk of swine flu is certainly proving unpredictable, but the latest statistics regarding the number of those infected are nothing short of shocking. In England, by July 100,000 people have been diagnosed according to The Times - with certain parts of the country, such as London and the West Midlands, having reached epidemic levels. So even as the term comes to an end, should we get a distance learning plan in place just in case our schools are unsafe in September? £23,500: A Guide to Today's Degree Debt August 2009 saw some of the best UK-wide A level results in history, with more than one in four students (26.7 percent) receiving A grades, and an impressive 97.5 percent passing, according to the BBC. However, as the continued increase in students receiving good grades pushes up the number of applicants for degree courses, they are also being faced by the prospect of building up the biggest debts of any generation before them, when it comes to graduation. The new phrase in further and adult education: "Debt Free Degree" After August's A-Level results led to the - not unexpected - reports of a higher percentage of students receiving A and A* grades, headlines such as the following from The Daily Telegraph: ‘Bright A-Level Students shun university,' were not entirely unexpected. However, although many are put off by the competition and the cost of traditional ‘bricks and mortar' institutions, this does not mean that they are eager to shun further education altogether. Welcome, then, to the era of the "Debt Free Degree". Issues of Equality: Mature Students at UK Universities In the UK August is always a month that the education system particularly focuses upon. Yet, in 2009 the A-Level grades received by students up and down the country have not only served to dr4um up the frankly accusations by those claiming such courses get easier year on year, but has also solidified the notion that our universities are going to receive the biggest influx of students ever. UK's New Universities Top Poll A recent survey by the alternative online prospectus, Whatuni.com, has uncovered some intriguing results in regards to the best courses and lecturers in the UK. The website compiled the research after asking over 7,000 students about their university experience (covering topics from facilities to ‘eye candy'), and found that of the top 10, four of the institutions listed could be considered ‘new' universities - i.e. established after 1960. The End of Business as Usual: ICT-driven Learning Seen as the Answer to Our Education Problems As the UK sees record numbers of applicants applying for university places, and the prospect of as many as 50,000 being turned away, it is perhaps unsurprising that the latest UNESCO World Conference in Higher Education discussed the challenge of demand as well as equity, affordability and relevance. So how important is the incorporation of ICT-driven learning to the future of higher education? Digital Inclusion: How the accessibility of online courses might help A recent BBC report entitled ‘Your country needs you connected' sheds fresh light on the number of people in the UK who are digitally excluded. According to Jane Wakefield, whilst the popularity of Twitter and Facebook are growing, '17 million Britons have never been online'. Digital Champion, Martha Lane Fox, is at the forefront of getting the outsiders online - so how can online certificate degree courses help her cause. ICT and e-Learning: The Growing Knowledge Economy and How To Staff It When discussing the term, ‘knowledge economy', it is worth discerning exactly what this phrase means and why it is worth understanding its importance today. Primarily, knowledge within a knowledge economy is a product that can be sold, which contrasts - somewhat confusingly - with a knowledge-based economy, in which knowledge is a tool. Distance Learning to Play a Major Part in President Obama's Adult Education Plans In a speech at Macombe Community College in Michigan, President Barack Obama has made some major new announcements regarding funding and plans for adult education and community colleges. The announcements come as many adults return to education in light of the recession, with recent reports from the state of Utah (at sltrib.com) claiming that the number of enrolments have increased by 19 percent in the past school year. Applications for degree courses at a record high - but will the UK be able to cope with the demand? The University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), the body responsible for processing applications to almost all universities in the UK has published data showing a record amount of demand for degree courses this year. According to telegraph.co.uk, numbers of applications have increased by over 57,000 during the recession - and is said to have been primarily due to an increased number of recently unemployed workers eager to make themselves more employable. Adult Education and e-Learning: Why 2009 should result in fewer prefixes and more knowledge At a time when UK university places are seeing record demand and applications submitted by older students are increasing, it seems likely that over the next few years a typical campus will be made up of an even more diverse mix of ages than it has seen in the past. Recent UCAS data highlights just how many older people are applying, with an 18 percent rise of applicants aged 25 and over - this has bumped the overall number of extra students competing to get into UK institutions by another 50,000 compared to last year. A Children's University - Accessibility to Higher Education in the 21st Century The past few months have seen record numbers of applications to UK universities. According to the University and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), an extra 57,000 students have applied for degree courses compared to the same time last year, leading to speculation from many corners of the media that around 50,000 people will be denied a place. Yet, as higher education funding is cut, and university places become more in demand - it may surprise some that university has never really been anymore accessible. Where do distance learners live? A recent news story in The Shetland Times details the prolific educational career of a distance learner who has been studying with the same home study course provider for almost 30 years. The report is intriguing and very positive for the promotion of distance learning and how it can help people. Yet, the fact that the gentleman in question is one of just over 17,000 people who live on Mainland Shetland led me to the idea for this article - exactly where do most distance learners live? British Universities Must Adapt to Survive - But how? A new report by the Joint Information Systems Committee is warning that UK universities are set to lose their world-class status if they fail to embrace e-learning and online technologies. The research highlights that despite the top four British Universities (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London) being included in the Top 10 learning institutions globally - they will not retain their reputation in a more competitive, more open and connected global environment unless they do more to adapt. Swine Flu - An Unexpected Friend to the e-Learning Industry Despite the somewhat controversial idea that an epidemic can be good for something, it is not difficult to see that the consequences of the recent swine flu may have been very good for certain sectors, particularly during such economically unstable times. The media and the pharmaceutical industry have no doubt been able to reap something from HINI, and not to mention new communication methods and social networks such as Twitter, who have found themselves at the forefront of breaking news (and are said to have been ‘infected also', see neteffect.foreignpolicy.com). Something I Tweeted Today: How microblogging can be used as a tool for distance learning For those of you who are unfamiliar with microblogging, I would be utterly surprised if you have not at least heard of Twitter. Twitter has established itself as the leading microblog platform - a means for users to post 140 character "tweets" (thoughts, opinions, links to websites/pages, etc) for the benefit of their followers. There are numerous microblogging platforms, but they are essentially doing the same thing - pushing content/information to those who want to read it. So how can it be used in traditional, blended and distance learning? Good News for UK Higher Education: Could 2009 be the perfect time to consider a degree? Despite fears earlier in the year that UK university enrolment numbers might be on the first decline in years, the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) has recently published figures that show they are on the rise again. As reported at aap.co.uk: "According to new statistics from UCAS…university application figures have noticeably risen this year, up 8.8 per cent in March compared to the same month in 2008. Does the increase in availability and accessibility of college courses really make them worthless? The UK and USA are currently going through something of a higher education boom during the current economic crisis. Despite a poor start to the year, in March the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) reported an 8.8 percent increase in applications due to the countrywide need for individuals to consider a career change and smarten up their CVs. This trend is reflected across the pond also, with online degree courses and e-Learning study on the rise for the same reasons. However, the accessibility of higher education in 2009 has provoked some interesting responses from some commentators. Distance Learning in Florida: Why the Sunshine State is the pioneer in the field The USA is often viewed as an inspirational country for distance learning, online education and home study. Here in the UK we may have the eternally popular institution, the Open University, but across the pond the recession has not only seen the number of online degree courses soar, to the point of being advertised on prime time television, but home schooling has long been accepted as a normal alternative means to an education from any age, especially in certain areas. Consequently, when children get older the idea of distance learning is nowhere near as strange as it might seem to those over here - and Florida is the state that leads the way. Criminal Justice: Why study Anti-Social Behaviour? In the UK, "anti-social behaviour" and "ASBOs" (Anti-Social Behaviour Orders) have increasingly become crime-related buzzwords over the last ten years. This has been a consequence of the Labour government's introduction of a civil order as punishment for those who are disorderly (i.e. ranging from being a noisy neighbour to being verbally abusive), this prevents the individual from going to certain places and talking to certain people after it is issued. Charles Jennings: Why a former Reuters head is now an e-Learning guru With the amount of times I have seen the name Charles Jennings pop up in recent news regarding e-Learning and business online, I was surprised to discover that there was not a comprehensive and up-to-date profile that was easy to find (yet, rather confusingly, there was a Wikipedia for another Charles Jennings - journalist and vice-president of CBC). Consequently, I was spurred on to do some research and to write this - in order to try and understand why Charles Jennings has so much to say about e-Learning. Canada: The Next Country in line to Welcome Education Online Distance learning, and that which includes education online and offline, has been growing in popularity all over the globe in the past few years. In the US, e-learning courses are now advertised on primetime television, whilst certain states offer virtual courses for secondary students who wish to specialize in other areas not on offer at their schools. In the UK, The Open University is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary, after having influenced countless other British universities to offer their own distance options. In an article at Canada.com, Avi Luxemburg describes how the phenomenon is also taking off in Canada - so why is this no surprise? The University of London External Programme: A pioneering institution with a spirit that is just as relevant today. Last month the Open University celebrated its 40th anniversary to much fanfare. However, despite the OU's acknowledged influence on higher education then and since, the institution that started it all was established over 100 years before. So why was The University of London External Programme established? And during this era of recession, adult education and online courses - how can our universities continue to learn from the scheme? How Distance Learning Could Affect UK University Fees As the economic crisis continues to bite, many universities are trying to push fees up for undergraduates. The BBC recently (17th March) reported that over half of UK university heads want students to pay a minimum of £5,000 pounds a year, or to have no upper limit on fees at all. However, as enrolment numbers take a downturn for the first time in years, and institutions begin to offer more distance options - could online degrees begin to highlight that traditional courses are overpriced? Criminal Justice: The subject of terrorism Over the last decade terrorism has become a widely studied subject in its own right, as well as an optional unit on many more general criminal justice courses. This is not only a consequence of its development as a label used by mass-media and politicians, but also due to the increase in accessibility of niche and specialist subjects via the recent emersion of e-Learning and online courses. So what does a course about terrorism teach you? Secondary Schools in Crisis: Why the credit crunch might make home learning a necessity for some parents A recent report at telegraph.co.uk highlights that aside from the banks and shops having been affected by the recent economic crisis, the UK education system may also be suffering as a result. So when we weigh up the issues of admissions, lack in school-places, slipping standards, and exam confusion, is it time for parents to consider home schooling their children? What Businesses and Marketing Graduates Need to Remember: Protected Brands In an article at mad.co.uk, Stirling University Professor, Gerard Hastings, discusses a curious trend in social consumption during our current economic crisis. Protected (or bubble-wrapped) brands are those named consumer items that are so trusted by shoppers, that they remain unaffected even when shoppers are cutting back and opting for cheaper varieties elsewhere. In light of the growing interest in business and marketing via the popularity of distance learning courses and university degrees in the subject, this article looks at the UK's most popular protected brands. The growth of online education in China A recent report has been published detailing the development of e-Learning and online education in China. The report, by companiesandmarkets.com, identifies that the sector has reached its "growth stage", increasing in market scale by 20.7 percent between 2006 and 2007 (from RMB14.5 billion to RMB17.5 billion). So how is the industry set to develop from here? And what can the west learn from the success of the Chinese distance and blended learning systems? More Than Just Teaching: The Additional Importance of Adult Education Distance learning and adult education are certainly in the spotlight at the moment. As economic problems spur individuals to improve their CVs or consider a change in career, and universities begin to offer more and more distance and e-Learning courses, now seems the perfect time for adults to think about going back to school. But adult education is not only about teaching older learners new skills and subjects, it also has a wider social importance - and can achieve far more. Online Courses and Volunteering: Methods for Beating the Recession Recessions and economic crises are typically considered rough times for most. However, for the online and offline education sector, such widespread financial problems can be seen to boost enrolments and are consequently seen as quite progressive times for institutions and schools alike. This is quite simply because, with increasing redundancies (or at least the increasing risk of redundancies) more and more of us are eager to improve our CVs and get a few extra skills under our belts. However, decisions that are made at such a time are important and can affect your future career immeasurably - and so should not be rushed into. Online Courses: Not just for home learners Mention the phrase "online courses" and most people instantly assume either of the following: online courses are for those involved in distance learning, online courses are for adults and mature students, or online courses are taken outside or after school time. These are true with many online courses, but not all… Less Money, More Learning: The effects of an economic downturn on adult education By comparison, the US is far more vocal about any positive outcomes as a result of an economic crisis than the UK are. Over here of course, our focus on the bleakness may well be because there is nothing positive occurring, but this seems unlikely - especially when one considers the basic parallels evident between North America's problems and our own. Is a global recession good for distance learning institutions? Much has been written about the effects of economic crisis on education recently. In January, Chris Wall (vice-chairman of Ogilvy, American advertisers who have just embarked on a high-profile e-Learning advertising campaign) stated that ‘"When the economy goes down, people go back to school," an opinion that has more recently been echoed by the comments of OU Wales director, Rob Humphreys regarding the important "role of part-time HE study in outsmarting the recession." In all, the ‘credit crunch' has been seen as an opportunity for this sector to shine, and I for one was enthusiastic at the prospect of witnessing a meteoric rise in online education enrolments. Edutainment: Could video games and social networking make better learners? Despite calls that the Scottish education system has slipped in recent times, thanks to the former Musselburgh deputy head teacher, Ollie Bray, the country is at the forefront of a move within schools to incorporate more video games and the internet as a means to make students learn better. So how does edutainment work? And could we see such method employed nationwide, and at other levels of education? Educating Cuba: Why the UK should look to the Caribbean for educational inspiration Sunday April 10th saw the annual meeting of the National Union of Teachers. Amidst British delegates complaining of misleading SATs, big class sizes and low pay (leading to a demand for a 10 percent or £3,000 price increase) - a teacher from Cuba spoke of the education system in her homeland, and offered a glimmer of hope to those who have all but given up on Labour's mantra: ‘Education Education Education.' So what have the Cuban government done so well? A University Without Professors? A new form of Online Education. The university professor is an institution unto himself, and I’m sure we all have the following picture (or similar) imagined when we discuss them. Wild-haired. Erratic and obsessed. Tweed-wearing. And most of all, an inspiration for the students whom he/she teaches. It might come as a surprise, then, that the future of higher education may not involve or need a professor as a guardian of learning at all – and it may happen sooner than we think. Open University Celebrates its 40th Anniversary: But distance learning is as relevant today as it was in 1969 In 1969, the establishment of The Open University changed the face of higher education forever. Instead of students needing to have a background in education achievement or even having to attend lectures or classes, anyone could now earn a degree from anywhere. Today the institution boasts in excess of 180,000 students studying at graduate, postgraduate, and diploma level – and has influenced countless other universities and learning establishments to offer distance learning and home study opportunities. Academic Breadth and Co-Curriculum: Why an online degree might be the perfect path to a 21st Century Education Last night, Anthony Seldon, renowned headmaster of Wellington College in Berkshire, presented his opinions of the problems of UK education to the College of Teachers. According to Seldon, one of the primary issues regarding the education system as a whole is the matter of exams and tests. He stated, "We do not need so many national external exams – we could perhaps get away without any until the age of 18, as they do in America.” Is open content set to revolutionize online courses? In a report by The Guardian today, Mandy Garner describes how European universities are on the verge of adopting an open content policy. She writes, "the Joint Information Systems Committee (Jisc) and the Higher Education Academy are launching a £5.7m pilot scheme to investigate the impact of open content and to look at issues of how to contextualise existing online material so anyone can make sense of it." So what does this mean for online courses, and higher education in general? Four of the Most Important Adult Educators The most famous educators throughout history have had influence far and beyond the teaching of children. Advancements in universal areas including philosophy and politics have been shaped by great teachers, whilst more specific parts of learning such as how adult education can be successfully implemented, or how a curriculum is designed today, have also been influenced by their ideas and methods. What follows is a list of educators who have had a significant influence on adult education today. Will the new crop of fake degree scams deter students from online education? Online education experts at degreeboard.com warned against a new type of fake degree scams today. The supposed new type of degree fakery goes far beyond the diplomas for purchase that have been available from non-existent and unaccredited colleges for years, and now means that anyone can purchase a fake degree from such respected institutions as Florida State University. So how will these fakers and frauds affect the future of online education? And what can be done to stop them? Entrepreneurship, Web 2.0, and Flexibility in Imagination - The Future of Higher Education In the wake of a downturn in university enrolments, the credit crunch, and the rise of distance study and home learning, much has been written recently of the future of higher education. Interestingly, there is a diversity of individuals representing many differing opinions within the education sector who have quite different ideas of what exactly the future holds for UK HE students. So can all of these ideas be realized in one place? Why going back into education will change your life Time, money, confidence, ...the list of concerns about going back into education for the potential student – especially if they have family and work commitments – is both important but mostly manageable when viewing education as something that can fitted in around your other responsibilities. Education in Finland The future of higher education in the UK is destined to look quite different in comparison to how it does today. As education online gradually follows the footsteps of the USA and grows in popularity with full and part-time UK students, others are seeking to establish an open content higher education service that might eventually result in a high quality University of Europe. So what can we learn from the education system of Finland? Could more accessible part time courses make UK university numbers rise again? At the end of January, reports of a decline in UK university students began to emerge. On the 29th, a story by the BBC stated that, ‘The number of British students at UK universities has fallen for the first time in recent history…from 1.97 million in 2007 to 1.96 million last year,’ despite a rise in the amount of international students enrolling. So how can universities turn the tables back and make our lecture halls more appealing to home-grown academics of the future? ELIG, JISC, and The Higher Education Academy: University of Europe, who’s making it happen? The current economic climate, and the subsequent rise in adult education, e-Learning, and the accessibility of being able to take an online degree is driving the technological advancement of, and investment in, computer-based distance learning. Because of this, many are speculating that very soon an open content University of Europe might be the next significant step for higher education. So, aside from the institutions that are expressing interest in the scheme, what other organisations are exploring the future of boundary-less e-Learning. League Table Culture: What is a degree worth today? The UK higher education year is almost half way through and many students will now be starting to plan the work that will count towards their degree grades. However, what many of them might not know is that the beginning of the year saw a significant debate on the worth of a degree in light of accusations made by a number of highly regarded academics. Synchronous Vs Asynchronous Technologies: Tools for Distance Learning Computers and the internet are becoming more relevant to distance learning (and traditional) courses, but some of the tools available for today’s distance courses are not particularly futuristic or advanced. By looking at synchronous and asynchronous technologies, this article aims to give an overview of all the ways students can be taught and instructed on distance learning courses today. Preparing Virtual Classrooms and Becoming a Liberal Facilitator: The teacher in the 21st Century Computer technologies and advancements in education online are changing the learning landscape considerably year by year. According to The Guardian, by 2010 “all schools are expected to have a learning platform in place - that is, a virtual learning environment”, and it seems that every teacher in the business will need to adapt to this nationwide inclusion of digital networks, forums, wikis, and intranets. So how is teaching changing? Why Study Internet Marketing? Internet Marketing is a broad term that encompasses all aspects of web-based promotion of products and services, including: button and banner advertising on sites, e-mail marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Search Engine Optimisation, as well as relatively new avenues such as social network promotion. In further education today, the scope and ever-growing nature of Internet Marketing has meant that it has become its own specific subject that is often advertised as additional to conventional business studies, and can even be studied in its own right. Why Study Criminal Justice? The Criminal Justice System of England and Wales includes such organisations as the police, the courts, and The Crown Prosecution Service and refers broadly to the way in which they operate on a national and local level to control crime and to uphold law. Although, such phenomena as 9/11 and 7/7, the recent popularity of the Wire, and the tabloid media’s zeal for disclosing “information” about criminal/terrorist networks has promoted the need to debate and question the powers and the systems used by our law enforcers, there are other reasons for people with an interest in crime to consider studying a Criminal Justice degree. What is liberal adult education? The teaching of adults differs considerably from children because of the background knowledge of students and the fact that they are usually eager to learn of their own accord, instead of it being mandatory to be taught. Adult education is continually evolving as numerous methods and incentives are established to try and make education easy later in life, and this is being stimulated today with the increased accessibility through distance learning and e-Learning. The Top 5 Female Entrepreneurs In a recent interview, Gary Head from Hiscox described that times of economic difficulty and increased redundancies can be the best times for wannabe entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. This comes at a time when degree courses in business and entrepreneurship are more accessible and popular than ever. Of course, today you don’t have to be a man in order to become the big cheese of a successful empire; and so to prove it to you I have compiled a list of my top five female entrepreneurs. Time to go back to school? “When the economy goes down, people go back to school,” said Chris Wall in a New York Times article released today. Wall is the vice Chairman for Ogilvy, the company behind the new advertising campaign for Kaplan University in the USA. But whilst record numbers of students enrol on courses stateside, and one of the biggest online universities starts to promote itself alongside I.B.M. and Dove, in the UK, the ins and outs of e-Learning remain illusive to most. Is it time to go back to school here too? Top 5 Strange University Degrees Over recent years, investment and government incentive for young people to take their education further has meant that universities and colleges around the world have begun to offer a broader range of Undergraduate and Masters degrees. Whilst enrolment figures are higher than they have ever been, it is fair to say we have also seen the introduction of some very strange degree level courses. Here are my top five. Social-Constructivism: The Importance of Forums, Blogs and Wikis to e-Learning There are many specific ways that online degrees and e-Learning courses facilitate the learning of students via computer technology. Traditionally, video tutorials have offered instruction in a similar manner that a lecture would, and online chats have allowed synchronous seminar-like discussions to take place. In recent years though, the rise of social web platforms have become included in distance learning (as well as traditional higher education courses) to aid peer assessment; and, arguably, to enhance adaptation into an increasingly electronic world. Opinions of Home Learning: UK V US Today, the phrase ‘Home Learning’ refers to receiving one’s education at home, either at lower, junior, or secondary level; but also encompassing extra-curricular learning and further education such as undergraduate and master’s degrees. The reason for this broad meaning now can be seen to have arisen, not only because of the increased accessibility of home learning via online courses and e-Learning, but also due to the growing acceptance of a home education being as legitimate as a traditional school-based one. However, between the UK and the US, opinions of home learning can still be seen to vary. A Short History of the The National Union of Students (NUS) The National Union of Students was founded in 1922 by members of the University of Birmingham, Imperial College, Kings College, and the University of Bristol unions of the time. Since then the organisation has grown to mean something to nearly every UK university student, positive or negative. However, despite its criticisms, in recent years the NUS has struggled through some adversity and now boasts in excess of 700 member universities. An Ode to the Worst Halls of Residence in the UK For anyone who has been to University, one of the aspects they hope to forget sooner is usually the accommodation. Remember if you can: eight people to a fridge; parties keeping you awake; security shutting your parties down; wet rooms,; rats. However, when it comes to Halls of Residence, it is not just the students who live in them who think they should be torn down. So what are the worst halls in the UK? And are we seeing the birth of a new breed of Super-halls? What does a foundation degree in entrepreneurship teach me? Entrepreneurship is a growing subject of study in the UK. With foundation courses and the opportunity to take an online degree popping up at an increasing number of institutions, it seems logical that one would ask exactly what a course in entrepreneurship entails. One of the first areas a typical UK entrepreneurship course might focus on is the business environment. What is the state of the economic environment within the UK and how does this affect business therein? What of the continual increasing affects of being part of the European Union? These questions will no doubt be explored with further focus on the importance of trade among businesses in the UK and internationally. Famous Graduates from the University of Essex Much is written of those who have graduated from Oxford and Cambridge, but all universities have their share of famous and celebrated alumni. The University of Essex is no exception. For a less famous UK university, it has a diverse range of internationally successful graduates who are each masters of their own field The Role of the Distance Learning Teacher With the increasing popularity of online education, due to advancing technologies and an increase in funding for universities to offer distance learning, the role of the teacher, instructor, or lecturer in modern higher education is certainly changing. But with a greater input of technology upon a student’s education, is the competency and overall quality of the teacher becoming less important? Home Schooling: The Pros and Cons It was good enough for Che Guevera, for Abraham Lincoln, and to a certain extent Queen Elizabeth II. In the UK at least, home schooling is popular (whereas in some Western countries it is illegal), and home study in students enrolling on further education courses is growing also alongside the growth of online education. So what are the pros and cons of home schooling? Child Prodigies of The Modern Age With easier access to education and the development of the internet, we have the information but do we have the knowledge? Most would say not. However, child prodigies have existed throughout history, with the most famous contributing to the arts such as Mozart and Picasso, but today it seems that those bestowed with the honorary label of ‘child genius’ are more known for their academic, scientific, and mathematical development. What follows is a quick exploration into the lives of a few of today’s prodigies. What is Learned on a Business Course? The Telegraph reported last month on the staggering rise of undergraduates starting university this year. The number of new students totaled 582,687, which is a 9.5 per cent increase on last year. The article also highlights the most popular subject choice for undergraduates, with almost 10,000 taking courses that focus on Business and/or Administration, a rise of more than 21 per cent. So what does a Business course teach you? Increasing redundancies inspire me to buy a very useful birthday present For my Dadâ€™s birthday, I offered to pay for him to do a Bachelors online degree through an online university. I know that he has been increasingly worried by the recent redundancies that have been going on at his company. Anyone who has not been performing a vital role for the business has been culled like a fluffy while Canadian seal pup and everyone is nervous. With huge businesses all over the country going bust and more redundancies being announced on the news each day itâ€™s no surprise that people are getting nervous. Globalisation, Online Education and the Role of Internet Considering that the Internet is a fairly new introduction to modern life, it is amazing to see how much it has developed in such little time. The Internet has gone from being a new and exciting commodity to an essential tool of 21st Century Life. What are the likely factors affecting adult education? Adult education broadly refers to continuing education later in life. This can include learning in direct relation to a new or ongoing career of an individual, or studies that are completely unrelated such as languages. With the development of online learning, adult education is becoming increasingly accessible, and although the general process of teaching and learning is similar between children and adults, there are additional factors that can be seen to affect those who continue their studies into adulthood. How to make online education more effective A new article by Jonathan Wainright, of FCG Consultancy, was published yesterday highlighting certain methods to ensure that modern e-learning is operated and works as effectively as possible. For many years writers have been striving to understand how online courses can achieve what they set out to do â€“ to equal that of traditional courses in a virtual context. By comparing the writings of Leonard Presby (from William Paterson University) in 2001, and Wainrightâ€™s article, how can online education be made more effective today? How much should parents contribute to UK university fees? Funding for UK university students is a contentious issue at the moment with many hoping for a reversion to the grant system of the past, and others believing that loans are the best way forward. As it stands, student funding for most will probably still come from The Student Loans Company, but it is typical for parents to pay towards higher education also. So how much should parents contribute to UK university fees? Jobs for Business Studies Graduates Business Studies is currently one of the fastest growing higher education courses in the UK. Although the reasons for this might seem simple, i.e. the changing financial climate and the growing negativity towards working for faceless multinationals and conglomerates, it can also seen to be due to the increasing accessibility of Business courses, for example via distance learning courses. However, it is not always clear exactly what jobs are suited to Business Studies graduates. So what are the perfect jobs for the thousands of Business Studies graduates. What university has the highest enrolment? (Part 2 of 2) When it comes to choosing the right university degree, there are many factors to take into consideration. The Times Good University Guide 2009 is a good starting point and by looking at an overview of the proportions of students enrolled it is possible to get an even more in-depth view of the best institutions in the UK, particularly when you take into consideration location and acceptance rates. The next step is to whittle these down and to start browsing those prospectuses. What university has the highest enrolment? (Part 1 of 2) In June The Times released The Good University Guide 2009 which ranks the top Universities in the UK on such factors as student satisfaction, research quality, and the ratio between students and staff. Although many elements must be taken into account when deciding which institution to apply for, it occurred to me that one of the most popular questions asked online concerns simply the number of students enrolling at our universities. The following discusses a selection of the listed universities in regards to their Times rankings, as well as the number of students enrolling. Adult Education - Why should I study online? The increasing variety and accessibility of adult education courses signify its undoubted growth in popularity. But when a student stops to consider whether taking an online degree is right for them, it can seem as easy to focus on the negative aspects of distance learning, such as lack of social interaction and the possibility of having to buy a new PC, as it is to focus on the many positive aspects. Here are some pros for distance learning that are not often discussed. 5 Of The Best Graduate Employees Every year The Times (UK) asks 15,000 graduates who they think gives the best opportunities and publishes its findings in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers. If you have just received a home learning degree and are now deciding who will be the lucky recipient of your CV, it is a valuable list. The following five examples serve as an overview of the opportunities available and the types of companies included. Ian Newland: War Hero and the First E-Learning Celebrity? The Associated Press reported yesterday of Ian Newland, an Iraq war veteran who has embarked upon an online degree since his return home to Denver Colorado in the USA. So why is online education so well-suited for people in his position? And has he become the personification for the magic of e-learning? Why not study the most popular undergraduate subject online? The Telegraph reported last month on the staggering rise of undergraduates starting university this year. The number of new students totalled 582,687, which is a 9.5 per cent increase on last year. The article also highlights the most popular subject choice for undergraduates, with almost 10,000 taking courses that focus on Business and/or Administration, a rise of more than 21 per cent. It is this subject area that Kaplan Open Learning, an affiliate to the University of Essex, offers as an online degree course â€“ more specifically Business and Management. Will We Ever See A UK E-University? John Denham â€“ Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills since 2007 â€“ is expected to propose new plans in regards to online degree courses tomorrow, says guardian.co.uk. So what is the likelihood that weâ€™ll see an all encompassing UK e-university? And what happened when we last tried to take a step towards harnessing the power of e-learning. The reality of attending an online university Even though I attend one of the leading UK universities for media related courses I still find that there is always something to complain about on the programme. I am sure that itâ€™s the same story in every other top university across the country. It could be that you donâ€™t feel as though you have enough lectures to fill your week, or that you have too many lectures and too much work piled onto your schedule. Maybe you feel as though the computers at the university need updating and that there are not enough books in the library? The History of the Cap and Gown in Higher Education Higher education is changing and increasing in popularity year on year. Newly available subjects and the option to study online courses highlight the influence of the modern and fast-advancing world on university life, yet certain traditions still remain. Wearing a cap and gown on graduation day is still standard for all graduates whether they have studied from home or just completed a BA in Pet Name Studies. But why do we wear the cap and gown? And how has it changed? The future of distance learning, in response to the JISC report Last month, chair of the Joint Information Systems Committee, Sir Ron Cooke issued a report to the government entitled On-line Innovation in Higher Education. The report comes at a time when online based learning has seen a growth in popularity and is fast becoming a usual addition to institutions and standard degree courses, and has no-doubt been enhanced by the creation of The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills last year. In response to Cookeâ€™s findings and the many comments itâ€™s received, what seems to be the future of e-learning? How to make education online more effective A new article by Jonathan Wainright, of FCG Consultancy, was published yesterday highlighting certain methods to ensure that modern e-learning is operated and works as effectively as possible. For many years writers have been striving to understand how online courses can achieve what they set out to do â€“ to equal that of traditional courses in a vrtual context. By comparing the writings of Leonard Presby (from William Paterson University) in 2001, and Wainrightâ€™s article, how can education online be made more effective today? Online Education: A Haven for Cheating? Online degrees and distance learning are increasing in popularity. Easier accessibility for a growing range of subjects, as well as recent government calls for a push in e-learning, highlight the fact that more and more students will be studying from home in the future and partaking in this more economical and ecological method of higher education. But does being away from the watchful eye of tutors and teachers mean that there is an increased risk of cheating among students? And what are the measures to stop it? The Top 4 Things You Wonâ€™t Miss â€“ If You Do Your Degree Online Time at university is an important rite of passage, and one that many consider to be â€˜the most fun years of your lifeâ€™. Today, however, the temptation to do your degree online seems to get stronger for young people and mature students alike â€“ whether itâ€™s for the sake of convenience, saving money, or simply because more subjects become available to study each year. Whilst reflecting on my time at university, there were certainly many great times, but I realised quickly that it wasnâ€™t for everybodyâ€¦and to be honest, it wasnâ€™t all tequila slamminâ€™ and Monopoly tournaments. Here are four things you probably wonâ€™t miss. Globalisation, online education and the role of the Internet Considering that the Internet is a fairly new introduction to modern life, it is amazing to see how much it has developed in such little time. The Internet has gone from being a new and exciting commodity to an essential tool of 21st Century Life. How does plasma TV work? The digital revolution? High def? If these buzzwords and catchphrases seem little more than babbled jargon, then the concept of plasma technology must seem as complicated as longdivision whilst blindfolded and listening to The Rites of Spring. Well, it doesnâ€™t need to be, and this article aims to distill the near future of television technology into 500 words of plain English.

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