December 9th, 2009
Accredited online universities are a major part of universal educational programs for many countries that find themselves on the brink of modernity. South Africa was one of the first third world nations to jump on the online university wagon in the beginning of the century, as internet cafes opened for business. Since then, many other African nations have followed suit, allowing their students to gain an education without spending thousands of dollars to travel to Western nations.
Accreditation was an initial problem upon the foundation of online universities, as more and more students around the world discovered that the courses they enrolled in were not worth a degree and only produced one which lacked accreditation. As a result, these universities have been sought out by lawmakers across Western nations and tweaked so that it is clear now that you are enrolling in an accredited online university. These universities have offered many students around the United States opportunities they could never have dreamed of, and this has additionally transferred to countries that are less fortunate than we are.
The global online education market has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, with for-profit education business on the rise. Many companies have since forged alliances with universities and institutions to bridge the gap between the third and first world, and help dispel the awful images that are associated with the third world. International corporations have since expanded their markets as a result of globalization and now cater to a whole different type of client and student. Technology is now constantly evolving and even countries in poverty stricken areas can now offer their students a chance at education, as long as they pay a nominal fee.
The first free online global university opened for business earlier this year, only requiring students to pay an enrollment and exam fee, costing around $30 for those students from impoverished countries. Educating the younger generation is vital if we are to attempt to enlist change within these troubled areas of the world, and the vision of one Israeli entrepreneur has contributed to the change that is currently taking place. The University of the People is still in its trial phase, but is expected to attract thousands of students within the next year of its existence, despite criticisms of its lack of payment for professors (attempting to indicate substandard teaching methods).
However, despite the vast criticism that online schools have always faced, accredited online universities are on the rise, both in and out of Western nations. The fact that students in India can now earn nearly any type of degree possible is going to be what lifts the country out of its drastic difference in wealth between the rich and the poor, toward a more substantial middle class. This will be true for many other nations, as the world looks toward a more educated future.
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