The United Nations Global Alliance for Information and Communication Technology and Development (GAID) today launched the University of the People, a non-profit institution that offers higher education for the masses.
“University of the People (UoPeople) is the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution dedicated to the global advancement and democratization of higher education. The high-quality, low-cost and global pedagogical model embraces the worldwide presence of the Internet and dropping technology costs to bring collegiate level studies to even the poorest and most remote places on earth. With the support of respected academics, humanitarians and other visionaries, the UoPeople student body represents a new wave in global education.”
The only charges to students are a one-off admission fee that ranges from $US 15 to $50 depending on the country of origin, plus a processing fee for each test, ranging from $US 10 to $100. At this time, application fees have been waived meaning enrolment is completely free.
There is also no charge to take classes or for online course materials.
Shai Reshef, Founder and President:
“Education, just like democracy, should be a right, not a privilege. With a few keystrokes, UoPeople takes the concept of social networking and applies it to academia, providing a global chalkboard for all students.”
Long distance learning is a growing trend in the U.S. with approximately 4 million students enrolled in online education. As a tuition-free service, UoPeople will take the concept of eLearning to an unprecedentedly broader – worldwide –audience.
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