UN announces launch of world’s first tuition-free, online university

UN announces launch of world’s first tuition-free, online university

19 May 2009 – A leading arm of the United Nations working to spread the benefits of
information technology today announced the launch of the first ever
tuition-free online university.

As part of this year’s focus on education, the UN Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technology and Development (GAID) presented the newly formed University of the People, a non-profit institution offering higher education to the masses.

“This year the Global Alliance has focused its attention on education
[and] how ICT can advance education goals around the world,” Serge Kapto
from GAID told a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.

For hundreds of millions of people around the world higher education is
no more than a dream, Shai Reshef, the founder of the University of the
People, told reporters. They are constrained by finances, the lack of
institutions in their region, or they are not able to leave home to
study at a university for personal reasons.

Mr. Reshef said that this University opened the gate to these people to
continue their studies from home and at minimal cost by using
open-source technology, open course materials, e-learning methods and
peer-to-peer teaching.

Admission opened just over two weeks ago and without any promotion some
200 students from 52 countries have already registered, with a high
school diploma and a sufficient level of English as entry requirements.

Students will be placed in classes of 20, after which they can log on to
a weekly lecture, discuss its themes with their peers and take a test
all online. There are voluntary professors, post-graduate students and
students in other classes who can also offer advice and consultation.

The only charge to students is a $15 to $50 admission fee, depending on
their country of origin, and a processing fee for every test ranging
from $10 to $100. For the University to sustain its operation, it needs
15,000 students and $6 million, of which Mr. Reshef has donated $1
million of his own money.

source: un.org/apps/news

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Comment by Zomi Community Network on October 9, 2010 at 8:20am
Online Free Bachelor Degree in Computer Studies recommanded by the United Nations @ http://www.uopeople.org Zomi-te a ding in hanciam huai hi!

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