EPFL online courses attract more than 2 million students
One of the advantages for MOOCs is that students can learn outside the classroom and teachers can devote class time to students with particular difficulties
Keystone
Online courses offered by the Lausanne-based Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) are going from strength to strength.
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La EPFL, mayor proveedor de cursos en línea de Europa
The institute has announced that more than two million people from more than 200 countries have signed up for one of its more than 80 programmes – making the EPFL the leading e-learning provider in Europe.
The EPFL’s first Massive Open Online CourseExternal link was launched in 2012 and the institute plans to offer another 30 programmes, according to a statement.
So far more than 100,000 MOOC participants have completed a course.
The EPFL also says it has launched online training courses in digital technology to cover the needs of Swiss companies.
MOOC’s are not only a valuable learning resource for EPFL students but also an essential teaching resource suited for continuing education, according to the statementExternal link published earlier this week.
The institute also says it is planning to create a Swiss platform in partnership with other higher education institutions across the country. The offer is due to be available from next September.
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But not everyone is convinced: some sceptics say MOOCs are not particularly innovative and just a new marketing opportunity. Last year witnessed an e-learning explosion as MOOC madness took over higher education. Eager not to miss out on this new trend, top universities from around the world are joining platform providers such as Coursera and…
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