In recent years, the role of education has increased more than ever. If until the beginning of the last century education was rather received for the development of the student’s personality, now it plays the main component of a successful career. According to research by Huntington, a scientist at Harvard University, now about 90% of jobs in the world require higher and specialized education, while at the beginning of the last century this figure was only 10-15%. This indicates that education has become a product of mass demand.

Already in the 60s of the last century, traditional full-time education could not cope with market volumes. It later became clear that the pace of updating face-to-face education programs lagged behind the dynamics of technology progress. Thus, in the 60s . distance education appears.

Distance learning should be understood as such an organization of learning in which the student gets access to educational materials and teacher consultations at any time of the day, seven days a week and in the place where he is located.

Distance learning (DL) has a history of more than 150 years. The first correspondence schools, in particular correspondence schools, arose in Europe (in 1840). In Great Britain they studied shorthand, in Germany they studied foreign languages ​​with the help of this type of training. In China, correspondence courses began in the early 1900s. In Australia, Canada and New Zealand in the 20s. Many institutions united in the European Association of Correspondence Schools. This form of education has received the most widespread development in France, where the world's largest State Center for Correspondence Education (Centre National d'Enseignement a Distance) operates. It was created in 1939, after the occupation of the country, to educate children deprived of the opportunity to attend regular schools After the liberation of France, adult education units appeared at the Center. By the mid-90s, 350 thousand people from 170 countries were studying here. The Center provides the opportunity to receive from primary and secondary school, secondary technical and vocational to higher university education.

Currently, distance learning is primarily associated with the introduction of the latest computer information and communication technologies into the educational process and the development of electronic communications and the Internet. Therefore, we can say with complete confidence that distance education is the latest service technology.

Distance learning abroad

On all continents, distance learning is represented quite comprehensively. Leading positions are occupied by the Dutch Open University, the National University of Iceland, the Open University of Great Britain, the National University of Technology (USA), the Open University of Israel, and the University of Shanghai. As for Russia and the CIS, mention should be made of MESI (about 40 thousand students) and the largest university in Russia, the Modern Humanitarian University (130 thousand students).

But distance education in developed Western countries has its differences. First of all, two concepts of organizing LMS can be distinguished: North American and European.

Distance learning in the USA

In the mid-1960s, some American engineering colleges began using television to provide training courses to employees of nearby corporations. In 1984, these programs led to the formation of the National Technological University (NTU). By 1991, it had grown into a consortium of 40 university engineering schools headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado. In the early 1990s, more than 1,100 students studied NTU's engineering degree programs via distance learning with the active participation of commercial employers. Many of those who completed the NTU Master's degree noted that they could not have done it any other way. The experience of NTU was studied and recommended as a model for an international electronic university. Funds provided by sponsoring organizations were used to host the courses, which is an example of cooperation between government, university and commercial structures. NTU is funded almost entirely by tuition fees, which are usually paid by the students' employers. After six years of operation in 1991, NTU's total revenue was $13.5 million. More than a million students are enrolled in distance education programs in the United States today, taking courses through the Public Broadcasting System (PBS-TV) since 1989. The PBS Adult Learning Service has worked with 1,500 colleges and local stations since 1990 (Brock 1990). The program offers courses in various fields of science, business, and management. The training courses, transmitted through four educational channels, are available throughout the country and, via satellite, in other countries.

The US military also uses educational institutes to provide training to its personnel in other countries. Even during the Gulf War in 1990-1991. many American sailors continued to take such courses. Using a variety of technologies, more than 4,000 military personnel have taken these courses, and more than 70% have completed them successfully. The American Open University New York School of Technology program has been monitoring courses taken by sailors on ships at sea for several years. In total, the US Army teletraining network (T-Net) includes 108 systems from VTEL (based on each installation, a class of teleconferencing can be deployed). There are another 16 such systems in the Navy.

State CE systems are critical. Many of them are also based on the satellite teleconferencing classes deployed at the turn of the 80s and 90s. As a rule, they include 1-2 classes at the main university or college, from where teachers conduct classes, and a number of classes at various points in the state (from 4 to 16), where distance learning groups study. Recently, the use of computer networks in educational institutions, which provide similar capabilities, but at a much lower cost, has become increasingly widespread. In general, a distinctive feature of the North American concept of organizing preschool education can be considered the use of the latest technical means in the learning process.

Distance learning in Europe

Outside North America, distance education is primarily developed by government-funded "open" universities. Initially, the European CE organization, which appeared in Great Britain in the late 60s, was largely similar to the Soviet system of correspondence education (and partially copied from it). The difference was that training was carried out as close as possible to the students’ place of residence, where they studied independently using special aids; therefore, such long breaks from their main activities were not required for students. In addition, the most important role in the learning process was assigned to tutors (auxiliary teachers), who, living close to the students, were supposed to advise them during the learning process, conduct seminars, Sunday schools, etc. Some courses were provided using television and radio. Recently, modern computer and communication technologies have been increasingly used in European CE, so that the purely technological difference between the North American and European CE organization is disappearing. In general, e-higher education programs are being developed in more than 30 countries, including third world countries. At the same time, naturally, there remain differences caused by different cultural, pedagogical and other traditions.

In general, DL in Europe received intensive development in the early 70s and is associated with the creation of a number of Open Universities (DE universities). Currently, in every European country there is a significant group of educational institutions implementing distance education programs. The methods of such training are quite well developed. Of interest are training programs using new information technologies, including satellite television, computer networks, multimedia, etc. Indicative in this sense is the example of the National University of Distance Education (Universidad National de Educacion a Distancia UNED) in Spain, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary of its existence. This university is one of the largest educational institutions in Spain. It includes 58 training centers in the country and 9 abroad (Bonn, Brussels, Geneva, London, Paris). Its students also have the opportunity to study in New York and Rome. In the UK, more than 50% of Master's degree programs in management are conducted using DL methods. The leading European organization in this area is the Open Business School of the British Open University. In DL systems that do not use the feedback principle, the information necessary for conducting lectures, seminars and other types of classes is usually centrally recorded on a video cassette or video disk. Additionally, audio recordings and data recordings on magnetic disks can be used. Next, these materials are sent, including using computer networks, directly to educational institutions, where they are used during training sessions. This method is used, for example, by the National Center for Distance Learning CENTER NATIONAL D"ENSEIGNEMENT A DISTANCE (CEND, France), which today provides distance learning to more than 350,000 users in 120 countries. About 5,000 teachers take part in the preparation of 2,500 training courses.

Along with programs designed for a fairly mass audience, targeted cycles of lectures and classes have become widespread, allowing students, upon completion of the course, after passing exams, to receive the appropriate diploma, certificate, etc. One example of the implementation of this direction of distance education can be television courses Baltic University (THE BALTIC UNIVERSITY). Created in Sweden, it brings together the efforts of more than fifty universities in the Baltic region. Using satellite television systems (STV), students and researchers from 10 countries have the opportunity to carry out scientific and educational contacts on topics of common interest. In 1991/92 This topic was the problem of environmental protection of the Baltic Sea Environment, and in 1993/94. - problems of development of the peoples of the Baltic region (Peoples of the Baltic).

Currently, many educational institutions are pooling their resources to organize distance learning. As a rule, for these purposes, a special consortium is created, which includes several universities or university departments, government agencies, enterprises, manufacturers of radio and television products, as well as providers for organizing a distance learning system. In Germany, an example of such an association can be the German Institute for Correspondence Education, in the USA - the National University of Technology, in Italy - the Nettuno Consortium and the Consortium of Distance University Education. A consortium is more than a network of several educational institutions, or an agreement on cooperation in the training of students. Within a consortium, the educational institution loses some autonomy due to the mandatory execution of decisions of the majority of consortium members for all its members, as well as due to the sharing of resources. Decisions are made regarding whether the student will study in a consortium or at a separate institution.

In developing countries, special consortia are also being created to combine the efforts of several educational institutions in the preparation of distance learning programs in order to make them of higher quality and less expensive, as well as to make full use of new communication opportunities. A similar practice is implemented in the interuniversity tele-educational program “Kepricorn”, in the development of which universities from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay took part.

Over the past thirty-odd years, significant structural changes have occurred in foreign education systems, due to the development of the growing, comprehensive impact of scientific and technological progress on the life of society. According to foreign experts, by 2015, every worker will need higher education, i.e., the minimum level of education necessary for the survival of humanity. Full-time (full-time) education for such a mass of students is unlikely to be supported by the budgets of even the most prosperous countries. Therefore, it is no coincidence that over the past decades, the number of students studying non-traditional technologies has been growing faster than the number of full-time students. The global trend of transition to non-traditional forms of education can also be seen in the growing number of universities providing training in these technologies. The long-term goal of developing FE in the world is to give every student, anywhere, the opportunity to take a course at any college or university. This involves moving from a limited concept of physically moving students from country to country to a concept of mobile ideas, knowledge and learning with the goal of distributing knowledge through the exchange of educational resources. Global distribution of communication channels can achieve this task.

So, the main advantages of DL have been and remain: reduction in the cost of training, a significant increase in the efficiency of the process, mass distribution, constant relevance, flexible schedule.

Bibliography

1. “New information technologies and linguistics”: Features of the organization of distance learning.

2. Financial newspaper. Regional issue No. 34, 2004: Implementation of distance learning systems.

3. Financial newspaper. Regional issue No. 23, 2005: Distance learning: opportunities and real experience.

4. “Higher Education Today” -2003 No. 4: Distance learning based on Internet technologies.

5. “Economic education” -2003 No. 1: Distance learning and the Internet.

6. “Public education” -2004 No. 7: Education system with European specifics.

7. “Public Education” -2005 No. 9: Evolution in the US education system.

Irina Davydova

Reading time: 10 minutes

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Education has always been and will be held in high esteem. But not everyone has enough money to study at a prestigious university. Don't despair, there are many online resources that can help you gain new knowledge or improve your skills for free.

Let's list the most popular online platforms , offering free education services.

• "Universarium"

The site offers to get a quality education by completing courses from leading Russian universities . Today, the site is visited by about 400 thousand regular users.

Basically, the project is intended for those who want to undergo pre-professional or specialized training in a specific subject and If you wish, enroll in Moscow State University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other institutes. In addition, entrepreneurs who advertise an upcoming course will be able to select the most successful graduates and offer them employment opportunities. Therefore, undergoing training will be beneficial not only for applicants and students, but also for those who already have an education.

Education at Universarium is free . The duration of the course is 7-10 weeks. The duration depends on the number of video lectures, testing, and homework. The courses are divided by topic, so it’s easy to find the one you want to watch.

At the end of the training a grade is given , and it is presented not only by the teacher, but also by online students. By the way, they can check your homework and receive additional points for this, which will affect the final certification.

In the future, site students will be able to receive diplomas , but for now their course grades are only reflected in the student ratings.

By the way, if you do not want to study in a group, you can simply view course of open lectures . They are available to everyone on the Universarium website.

• National Open University "INTUIT"

It has been operating since 2003 and still occupies a leading position. The work is aimed at preliminary specialized training in subjects, advanced training , training for the purpose of obtaining higher or second higher education.

Of course, full training - paid , but there are over 500 free projects that anyone can use.

Upon completion and completion of the course, you will be able to receive an electronic certificate and take a job with pride.

By the way, there are many benefits from taking courses. For example, a teacher at a leading Russian university will notice you and your talent and interest and offer to enroll in their university . Also, a private entrepreneur engaged in business will be able to select the best graduate and offer him further work in the company.

Today, the Internet site is replete with various offers. You can plunge headlong into economics, accounting, philosophy, psychology, mathematics, IT and other areas.

Duration of courses ranges from several hours to weeks and depends on the number of classes, incoming testing or homework, and exam time. Those courses that have already been completed can be purchased for a small amount - within 200 rubles. You will be able to listen and watch them, but you will not pass the exam and certification.

The main difference between the site and many others is that there are specialized courses that teach specialists and developers from the Intel and Microsoft Academies.

Training is also free, there is opportunity for further employment in the best companies in the world . This and other information can be found on the website intuit.ru.

• Multimedia Technologies

Leading Russian educational platform offering more than 250 video courses on various topics. What makes this resource different is the opportunity to learn foreign languages, modern office programs, graphic editors, several programming languages, as well as listen to university lectures.

In addition, the advantage of the resource is multimedia . You can watch video lessons, listen to audio recordings, find slide shows, animated and graphic films based on your interests.

The platform operates on a “cloud” system — all downloaded information is saved in an archive that is accessible from any device (PC, tablet, smartphone). You can study even when you are far from home. This is another advantage of the website teachpro.ru.

All courses absolutely free and are accessible to everyone, regardless of age.

• Lectorium

On the site you will find a huge number of lectures in different languages. The topics are very diverse - from exact sciences to humanities .

All courses free . They are taught by teachers from leading educational institutions. The duration of the courses is several weeks and depends on the topic and the amount of information that will be provided to the online student.

On the lektorium.tv site there is an opportunity to view archive of video lectures , which included more than 3 thousand entries.

You can view the materials absolutely free . There are both school topics - solving problems on the Unified State Exam, State Examination, State Examination, and larger-scale topics from scientific conferences.

You can learn any skill that piques your interest. anyone who wants – applicant, student, specialist with education.

There is also the opportunity to undergo paid on-site training and learn create your own online courses , which can help all categories and strata of society.

• EDX

Project Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University .

The site provides an extensive database of not only these two leading universities in the world, but also 1200 institutions . A convenient search will help you find interesting courses.

You can choose a course by topic, level (introductory, intermediate, advanced), language (there are training programs in 6 languages, with the main one being English), or by availability (archived, upcoming, current).

The training is free, however if you want to get a certificate you will have to pay . This point does not bother students; there are already more than 400 thousand active users of this site. There are currently over 500 educational programs available. They can be viewed here: edx.org.

This project is perfect for those who speaks English .

• Academic Earth

Academicearth.org for those who speak English and want to have a higher, world-class education . Training is conducted in several areas - you can find courses for applicants, students of colleges, technical schools and their graduates, as well as bachelors, masters, and doctors of science. This is the main advantage of the Internet project.

On the site you can use the search and quickly find what you are interested in, or go to the “Courses” section and see many offers from teachers of the best educational institutions on the planet. These include Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Stanford and other universities . You can learn from the best masters, learn a lot of new things, and receive a certificate.

• Сoursera

Another educational platform that provides free online courses. You can learn remotely 1000 programs in different areas . Note that courses are taught in 23 languages, with a particularly large number in English.

During training you can get a completely free certificate , it must be confirmed by the course curator who gave lectures and assignments for you. The second way to obtain a free certificate is to complete an examination test, check it with a teacher and sign it.

Unlike other sites, coursera.org has a huge database of courses from various institutions around the world . Partners are universities in the Czech Republic, India, Japan, China, Russia, Germany, France, Italy and other countries.

• UoPeople

A free university where anyone can get Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Computer Science . There is one condition for students - to know English and have a secondary education.

In general, the good thing about the uopeople.edu project is that you can become the owner of a higher education by completing online education from an accredited university .

There is one minus – you will have to pay to pass the exams and receive a diploma. The cost depends on the student’s place of residence. However, if you dream of having a “tower”, then this will not be a problem. The main thing is that you will learn from world-class teachers.

• Khan Academy

Website for free video lessons and exercises in 20 languages ​​of the globe , including Russian.

This project brings great benefits schoolchildren, applicants, students . They can view videos from thematic micro-collections. Parents and teachers can not only share learning experiences on the online platform, but also select the necessary lessons required for their children or students.

The main difference of the project is lack of reading materials . The website khanacademy.org contains videos not only from ordinary people who are passionate about the learning process, but also from specialists from leading institutions (NASA, Museum of Modern Art, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Academy of Sciences).

• Businesslearning.ru

Online distance education platform for those who want improve skills in the field of entrepreneurial activity or simply study laws, business tools, economics, law, finance, marketing and other areas.

The project was created with the support of the Moscow Government . Currently it has about 150 thousand students.

Thanks to free courses, you get an excellent opportunity to learn entrepreneurship, become a business person with your own business and not have to think about

• AttentionTV

Russian portal where collected the best educational videos and the best educational projects , which are created by students and teachers from leading Russian institutions.

The advantage of the resource is that here - vnimanietv.ru - a lot has been collected educational materials that anyone can master independently . Videos are divided by topic. You can easily figure it out and find the lecture or lesson you need.

The site's audience is about 500 thousand people. All videos are available in open, free format .

• Ted.com

Another platform where educational videos , filmed by specialists from various companies around the globe.

The site is called "Technology, Entertainment, Design" , in Russian it means "Science, Art, Culture".

All videos are located in the public domain . Almost everything is in English, but with Russian subtitles. Thus, the project reaches a multi-million audience in various countries around the world.

• Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative, or OLI for short

Project having educational direction . This site is different in that no one here will force you to teach.

You can complete the training and study the material using the video lesson free, independently and at a time convenient for you .

But there is also a disadvantage of such training. – there is no opportunity to consult, establish live communication with the speaker, or pass exams.

Such a resource - oli.cmu.edu - can be considered as a teaching resource, but not providing a diploma or certificate from an institution . However, its benefits are significant. You can use it if you know English.

• Stanford iTunes U

Huge library of video content and lectures from Stanford University . Teachers from a leading university teach online students and applicants in a variety of areas that relate not only to university specializations, but to major events, music and much more.

The videos are completely free. There is one minus – the resource is organized on the popular Apple iTunes platform; only the owner of the iTunes service and the corresponding software can use it.

• Udemy.com

The only platform with a huge 7 million audience, providing free distance education on a wide variety of topics . Another advantage of the project is that it contains more than 30 thousand courses and programs taught by experts, specialists from the best universities.

The website has both paid and free courses , there is no strict distinction. However, it is possible to compare knowledge that is given for a fee and for free, to determine whether the differences are significant.

You can study from any device, at any time convenient for you - these are also important advantages. But there is also a minus: the language in which they teach is English .

Technology is everywhere: we open the Internet instead of a book, order food from home and turn on the light while lying on the couch. In 2014, Boston Consultin gGroup surveyed 2,500 US secondary and higher education students: 67% of them studied at least one course remotely or a mixed course and were satisfied with the result.

For the first time, the idea of ​​education without the presence of students in the same room arose at the end of the 18th century in Europe. The student received educational materials by mail, communicated with teachers and took an exam to a trusted person or in the form of a scientific paper. This method reached Russia at the end of the 19th century.

Since the 1950s, viewers have watched various educational programs but received no feedback for obvious reasons. Distance education became truly widespread in the second half - in 1969, a distance education university, the Open University of Great Britain, opened in England. Students paid low fees and attended almost no classroom training.

In the 1980s - a breakthrough - many people got personal computers. Now those interested bought educational game programs. Later, the Soviet-American project “School Email” was organized. In 2017, there is a computer, laptop or smartphone in every home, which means the possibilities have increased.

Advantages

• your own pace of work: if you don’t have time now, finish the tasks tomorrow
• interactive exercises and games: diagrams, tables and diagrams will help you remember the material faster, and the opportunity to compete in achievements with other students motivates
• saving money: 2-3 times cheaper than the traditional form of education
• access anywhere and anytime with the Internet: study during breaks at work, turn on educational audio recordings on the way home
• variety of courses and teachers: learn how music changes lives (https://www.coursera.org/learn/music-life), or how to build a robot (https://www.coursera.org/learn/roboty-arduino)

Flaws

• motivation: it’s hard to tear yourself away from cat videos and study
• lack of practice and personal contact: it is impossible to communicate and interact with a person from another country
• student identification problem: parents or tutors can take the exam for you
• Internet and personal computer: you cannot study without access

Types of online education

online courses: for free or for a small fee you will go through material on a selected topic and test your knowledge at the end of the course (edX , Coursmos, Highbrow, Skillshare, CreativeLive)

open lectures: the opportunity to attend classes from the best teachers while sitting at home (hse.ru/lectorian/, lektorium.tv, distant.msu.ru, http://oyc.yale.edu/, http://www.extension.harvard .edu/academics/online-campus-courses)

distance education: get a higher education diploma from the country's leading universities

virtual excursions: go to the Kremlin, Yasnaya Polyana, A.S. Museum-Reserve Pushkin for free (http://tours.kremlin.ru/, http://pushkin.ellink.ru/vtour/titlem.asp, http://ypmuseum.ru/ru/muzey/virtualnye-ekskursii.html, http: //hermitagemuseum.org/wps/portal/hermitage/panorama?lng=ru)

Skype lessons: ideal for learning foreign languages ​​with native speakers

Learning process

Based on the description, goals, and teachers, you choose one or more courses/area of ​​study. The main part of the training is video lectures that can be watched many times. There are also texts, assignments, projects and chat with other students. After completing the course, it is possible to receive a certificate or diploma, depending on the site and cost.

Obtaining a certificate

Universarium (http://universarium.org), Coursera (coursera.org), Intuit (http://www.intuit.ru/), Khan Academy (https://ru.khanacademy.org), lektorium.tv and Such platforms offer for a small fee (on average 1,500 rubles) tests based on the material covered. And, most importantly, after completing the paid course, you will receive a certificate that will be quoted by employers.

Receiving a diploma

Some Russian and foreign universities are creating distance education programs. If you live, for example, in Chelyabinsk, and want to get a diploma from Moscow or Minneapolis, this option is suitable.

For a fixed fee you will receive a diploma of higher education indicating the form of study - “correspondence”. As with the traditional form of education, there is a session at the end of the semester with certain exams and coursework.

How to proceed

Requirements vary at a particular university or program. If you want to get an international diploma, learn English. However, even the language requirements will most likely be more lenient than in the case of full-time programs. One way or another, upon admission you take entrance tests online and send a package of documents before the deadline.

Below is a list of some places of study (approximate costs for undergraduate studies are indicated).

Boston University (USA)

Leading private research university in the USA. Consists of 18 colleges and schools, has 32,000 students from 100 countries (10% are foreigners).

More than 33 programs

Cost: $435/credit

Capella University (USA)

The private online university was founded in 1993 and has more than 24,000 adult professionals enrolled in the online university.

23 programs

Cost: $340 - 394/credit + $150/six months for books, materials, etc.

Liberty University (USA)

Largest Christian University Ranks Top 10 Online Universities. Founded in 1985, has over 95,000 students worldwide

More than 60 programs (you can even become a certified housewife!)

Cost: $390-$605/credit

University of Liverpool (England)

The oldest city university in Britain was founded in 1881. Recognized for its innovative teaching methods - the highest number of online degrees in Europe.

41 programs

Cost: € 45,300

University of Manchester (England)

The largest research center in Europe, where important scientific discoveries of the twentieth century were made. It has more than 40,000 students from 154 countries.

15 programs

Cost: £17,000/year (Masters)

Distance education, which many had not even heard of ten years ago, is gaining increasing popularity. Even the world's leading universities, including Yale, Cambridge and Oxford, offer students around the world to take advantage of this form of education. And this makes the dream of obtaining a prestigious education quite feasible for hundreds of thousands of young people. In addition, in this way you can get a second higher education, study foreign languages ​​at the highest level, and improve your qualifications.

Options for distance learning abroad:

• obtaining a bachelor's or master's degree;
• training;
• courses in various disciplines developed by the world's leading universities.

How does the learning process take place?

Students receive a personal password, which gives unlimited access to the necessary educational materials. In the learning process, programs are used that consist of video lectures, tutorials, topics for independent work, tests and were specially developed taking into account all the intricacies of distance learning. It is often possible to communicate personally with teachers via Skype or email. At the end of each course you must take a final test or exam. At the end of the entire course of study, you must come to the university in person and pass a qualifying exam.

Advantages of distance learning abroad

Prestigious international diploma

Such a diploma opens many doors and expands horizons, but only a few have the opportunity to study full-time at a university in Europe or the USA. At the same time, the reason is not only the difficulty of entrance exams, but also the high cost of training and the need to move abroad for the entire period of study.

Quality education, access to exclusive educational materials

The educational process will be coordinated by the world's leading teachers, students receive recordings of lectures given during full-time studies, numerous tests and tests will help to constantly monitor the level of their knowledge.

Independent choice of duration and training program

Students of distance learning are given a unique opportunity to independently plan the educational process, set the pace of learning, and devote more time and effort to the most important topics and disciplines.

Opportunity to work while studying and pay for the educational process

Disadvantages of distance learning abroad:

Difficulties upon admission

It is quite difficult to enroll in a foreign university, even if we are talking about a distance learning program. Good academic performance is important; recommendations from teachers or instructors and personal achievements in the chosen field may often be required. Knowledge of the language must be at the highest level.

High tuition costs

If we talk about prestigious universities in Europe and the USA, the cost of distance learning sometimes exceeds the cost of full-time study at a Russian university.

Lack of strict control by teachers

Many will decide that this cannot be called a disadvantage, but often excessive freedom discourages the student, and he begins to devote less time to studying. The result is expulsion or a low level of knowledge. Therefore, for successful distance learning abroad, you need motivation and a clear understanding that it is you, not the teachers, who need good knowledge. And it is important not only to obtain a diploma, but also to gain as much knowledge as possible during the learning process.

Choosing an educational institution and admission procedure

If you think that distance education abroad is exactly what you need, then carefully choose an educational institution. It will largely depend on the program of study (bachelor's, master's, advanced training, courses), your financial capabilities, and the chosen program.

Having made your choice, visit the website of the educational institution and carefully study the requirements for applicants, as well as the list of required documents.

In most cases, you will need to prove your language proficiency by obtaining an international certificate (for example, TOEFL).

Also prepare a certificate of complete secondary education, a university diploma, if you have one, fill out the application accordingly, and also attach information about personal achievements and letters of recommendation.

You can always get up-to-date information about admission on the official website of the university. It is advisable to start preparing for admission in advance. Contact the educational institution in advance and clarify all controversial issues, prepare for entrance examinations, if they take place, and collect a package of documents. If necessary, take the time to improve your language skills to the proper level, otherwise you simply will not be able to master the curriculum.

Distance learning is used in most developed countries on the planet - the USA, Australia, Canada, China, and EU countries. Distance education is optimally suited for citizens of the Russian Federation who earn well enough to pay for their studies abroad, but for one reason or another do not have the opportunity to travel abroad for a long time. But keep in mind that in order to be admitted to almost all reputable universities in Europe and America, you must present fairly high results on a previously passed English language proficiency exam - TOEFL.

European LMS

If you want to take a distance learning course, pay attention to EU countries. The European educational system is credit-modular (CMS) with the basic unit ECTS. It calculates the level of teaching load within a course or any training program as a whole.

In one year, a student can earn 60 credits, with each subject having a different weight. To become a bachelor, you need to accumulate 180-240 ECTS. To obtain a master's degree, the amount will have to be increased to 300. The flexibility of the CMS lies in the fact that, in addition to the required subjects, the student can choose several disciplines to study at his own discretion. Thus, the future specialist participates in the formation of his curriculum.

Distance learning in the UK

The largest university in the United Kingdom offering distance education programs is the Open University. The word “open” in the name of this institution means that studying there is available to citizens of any recognized state.

More than 250,000 students are constantly studying at the OU, a fifth of whom are foreigners. The university is considered one of the largest in the world. EU citizens can study at the Open University by paying in installments. This service is provided by the financial company OUSBA, part of the Open University structure.

All educational materials are sent to students by mail - this is special software, manuals and manuals, DVDs and CDs, as well as equipment that may be needed for practical and laboratory classes (it must be returned after completion of the course). In addition, students receive access to online libraries, archives and educational resources, standard for distance learning.

To obtain a diploma, you will need to complete a number of tests and pass final exams, which can be conducted both written and oral. Throughout the course, grades are regularly given for answering the teacher’s questions and completing interactive and practical assignments. But to take the test in writing, you will need to come to the university or get to its official representative office. Oral exams can be held via video conference with a teacher. Research work is usually required to be sent in writing; in some cases, it is permitted to be submitted electronically.

Graduates of various OU programs receive master's, bachelor's, doctoral diplomas, as well as educational certificates.

Online education in Germany

Fern University is the only open public university in Germany. It has a permanent enrollment of at least 79,000 students, approximately 6,000 of whom are outside the country. At the university you can get a doctorate, as well as become a master or bachelor.

Exams can be taken at German embassies or consulates located in the student’s country of residence. With the consent of the tutors, foreigners can take oral tests via video conference. This service will cost 40 euros. But the defense of the dissertation is provided only in person.

Remote study in Spain

You can also take distance learning abroad at the Spanish university Universidad a Distancia de Madrid (UDIMA), a private educational institution operating since 2008.

As a rule, students of online programs at American universities are divided into groups of fifteen people.

In addition to paid higher education, some US educational institutions have developed free open courses consisting of webinars and online workshops. At the end of the training, a qualifying exam is taken, certificates are sent by mail at the expense of the graduates. To participate in such programs, you only need to register on the appropriate online educational resource.

As for Canada: in this country, more than seventy percent of colleges offer distance learning services to everyone. The Canadian Virtual University Association unites many universities that offer at least 280 programs on a paid basis.

Teaching can be conducted in either French or English. In Canada, there is no unified system of entrance exams, and each individual university has the right to put forward its own requirements for applicants: for example, a certain score on the GMAT and TOEFL.

Not all Canadian ones are designed for foreigners. Most lectures are broadcast on a well-developed network of local educational television channels that are not included in satellite broadcasting. The best universities that offer distance education not only to Canadians, but also to citizens of other countries are Laurentian University, Royal Roads University, and the University of Manitoba.