Online learning has become a buzzword in recent years, with platforms like Spotify even entering the game with courses on music production and cooking.
However, Shai Reshef, President of University of the People (UoPeople), argues there’s a bigger story to tell: affordable access to career-changing degrees.
Breaking Down Barriers in Education
Reshef, with over 20 years of experience in education, saw online learning’s power but also its high cost. “I realized how powerful online learning can be, but I also realized that it was simply too expensive for most students around the world,” he explained.
This led him to found UoPeople in 2009, leveraging free online resources to create an accessible university. Since then, it’s grown to serve over 137,000 students from 200 countries.
Overcoming Challenges, Not Just Financial Ones
UoPeople goes beyond financial limitations. “UoPeople was founded with the belief that education is a fundamental human right for all,” said Reshef. The university helps students overcome various challenges, including war, poverty, and natural disasters.
“UoPeople currently serves more than 16,500 refugees around the globe as well as over 3,000 Afghan women studying online from the safety of their homes, around 1,700 Ukrainian students, some of whom are studying from bomb shelters, and over 10,000 Syrian students,” he highlighted.
Focus on In-Demand Skills and High ROI
While online platforms offer fun, non-traditional courses, UoPeople prioritizes career-oriented programs. “Instead of offering a wide range of academic programs, UoPeople focuses on the degree programs in the greatest demand on the job market,” explained Reshef. These include business administration, computer science, education, and health science.
This focus translates to a good return on investment (ROI) for graduates. “The 30X return on investment (ROI) for UoPeople graduates in comparison to graduates from traditional institutions was calculated by Tripp Umbach,” said Reshef. This means for every $1 invested in a UoPeople program, graduates see a $250 return, compared to the national average of $8.2 for traditional degrees.
Beyond Cost Savings: Long-Term Benefits
Financial benefits extend beyond the tuition-free model. “UoPeople’s focus on high job demand and industry-relevant programs enhances our graduates’ employability,” said Reshef. The flexibility of online learning allows students to keep working and manage family responsibilities, further contributing to their overall success.
UoPeople ensures degrees remain relevant by focusing on in-demand fields and offering short-term certificate programs for skill enhancement. Additionally, a pilot virtual internship program provides valuable experiential learning.
“We provide all of our students with a liberal arts background which develops universally important skills such as research, analytical reasoning, and creative problem-solving,” explained Reshef.
These skills equip graduates to adapt and thrive in a constantly evolving job market.
“The tuition-free education model pioneered by institutions like University of the People has the potential to significantly disrupt traditional higher education,” said Reshef. It removes financial barriers, enables access to education, and challenges the notion that quality education requires a high price tag.
This model facilitates innovation and may force traditional universities to adapt to stay relevant. Ultimately, it could reshape the educational sector towards greater accessibility and inclusivity.
“I believe that tuition-free higher education such as that offered by UoPeople can both transform the lives of individuals and be a powerful force for societal change,” Reshef stated. Education empowers individuals and facilitates global development. “If you educate one, you can change a life. If you educate many, you can change the world,” he concluded.
Reshef shared inspiring success stories of UoPeople graduates making a difference, like Sarah Merlino, who overcame homelessness and the burden of student loans, and secured a management role at Amazon thanks to her UoPeople MBA.
Innocent Tshilombo, a refugee, built solar kiosks for internet access in his camp and earned a business administration degree from UoPeople. Marina Esveera used her UoPeople business administration degree to secure a scholarship to one of the ten law schools she got accepted to.
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