| "I never try to teach my students anything, I | | | | their native one, the hassles of getting even a |
| only try to create an environment in which they | | | | visa to stay for a semester or year at a time |
| can learn." | | | | are over. International Data Corporation predicts |
| --- Albert Einstein | | | | that 500,000+ foreign students, or 3.5% of total |
| The 21rst century is going to change how people | | | | postsecondary enrollees, study online and spend |
| learn and earn their degrees of choice. Many of | | | | over $13 billion over the time of their degrees. |
| the worlds' top universities are studying distance | | | | Gartner Group sees the potential of 1.6 million |
| learning's many trends, so they'll be ready for an | | | | international distance-learning candidates by 2005. |
| entirely new type of student emerging today - | | | | With the pervasive adoption of Internet access |
| distance learners. It is projected by both | | | | on virtually every continent, Gartner Group sees |
| International Data Corporation and Gartner Group | | | | major growth globally for distance learning in highly |
| that the majority of students in colleges and | | | | developed and emerging nations as well. |
| universities throughout the world. | | | | International Data Corporation predicts that by |
| Consider the factors that the top universities | | | | 2005 there will be 45 million users online in higher |
| around the world are looking at, and be | | | | education alone. At the heart of why so many |
| encouraged that the future of advanced | | | | universities are focused on distance learning is that |
| education is coming to a personal computer near | | | | by 2005, the online education market will be |
| you. The educational playing field is getting leveled; | | | | $215B in revenue. Given the escalating costs of |
| and it's making it much more affordable and | | | | in-class courses and tuition fees, the worlds' |
| available for anyone looking to improve | | | | universities have no choice but to embrace |
| themselves: | | | | distance learning and reach students where they |
| Women have outnumbered men on college | | | | are, with new programs that are affordable for |
| campuses since 1979, and are 60% of distance | | | | those students on a global scale. |
| or online learning students who are over 25. For | | | | Summary |
| many women who are already committed to | | | | It's a very bright future for anyone interested in |
| their families, communities and friends, interrupting | | | | getting to their educational goals with online |
| their lives - especially those who are mothers - is | | | | learning programs. The worlds' universities continue |
| very tough. Distance learning is going to give | | | | to see their costs escalate up for their traditional |
| more women than ever before a chance to | | | | programs; online and distance learning is a |
| improve themselves, than has ever been possible | | | | low-cost approach for them to reach double or |
| in the past. What's so exciting about this is the | | | | even triple the students they teach today. The |
| chance for women to achieve their potentials | | | | bottom line is that the playing field for anyone in |
| while caring for their family, friends and | | | | the world looking to better themselves through |
| community. | | | | distance learning is getting leveled daily - a quality |
| Foreign students no longer hindered by visas or | | | | education is as close as a personal computer with |
| green cards. For literally millions of students who | | | | an internet connection. |
| want to attend universities in nations other than | | | | |