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. At present, University of the People is not an accredited institution, therefore, the University of the People does not presently confer degrees. http://www.uopeople.org/Default.aspx
I just wonder what kind of people are going to enroll in this institution if they don't offer official degrees? It's a waste of time.
Makes me think of the movie accepted. You know the one where the kid is rejected from every college he applied to and then makes up a college called "South Harmon Institute of Technology." I just watched this not to long ago and when I read your post I thought of it.
It's not accredited then the classes/courses there will not be accepted at any school and a bit of a waste of time unless you just want to take classes for fun.
Interesting, but I just don't see this succeeding. Even if they do become accredited, how do they expect to maintain operations with no income? Unless they have some large donors, or some other sort of backing, I just don't see how this is feasible in the long term...
I gave up when it said I had to write a 300-400 word essay for the application. My essay went something like this: "No thanks, I'd rather not write an essay." I decided to see what they would do. Then I had to print off three forms and send them to California. Not worth the postage to me!
Apparently this is an initiative by a UN agency. As such, it is doomed to failure, or at least mediocrity, like everything else the UN undertakes.
"...[W]orldwide presence of the Internet and dropping technology costs to bring collegiate level studies to even the poorest and most remote places on earth." Wow -- and exactly how do the residents of the "poorest and remote places on earth" manage to have computers and Internet service?
I don't know-maybe this is for people who want to learn for the sake of learning? We take for granted all of our opportunities and access to information, and this might be a great source of organized education for those who can't afford a university or college. Not everyone takes classes for a diploma.
Here's an article about U of P from the New York Times(FEb. 2009) http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/technology/25iht-university.4.19660731.html
The article suggests that the founder actually has some idea what he's about. I'll be interested to see where it goes from here (though the tacit assumption that it will run on volunteer labor is a bit much).
If it was a school that had classes I'd want to audit for the joy of learning I'd be all for it. Doesn't look that way.
