Global University Alliance Launched in Hong KongThe Global University Alliance (GUA) that was made up of ten prestigious universities worldwide offering on-line education was launched Thursday in Hong Kong.As a pioneering on-line education provider for distance-learning students, GUA is aiming to create cross-accreditation arrangements where students can access customized qualifications by enrolling in a range of courses at multiple universities, all of which are delivered through the Internet. GUA members include George Washington University, Rochester Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Courses on offer range from health, business and management, computer and information, education, engineering and humanities. Addressing the launch ceremony, GUA Chairman Christopher Ball said GUA's vision statement is "power of knowledge at your fingertips," which sums up the enormous opportunities that e-education can offer. "In Asia alone, we estimate the accredited postgraduate education market emendable to on-line delivery at as much as 5-10 billion U.S. dollars per annum," he said. Enrollment in the first courses started in September 2000. To date students from 10 countries including Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, have signed up and have started courses. Between now and next March, GUA will offer 101 courses in 38 awards from 8 institutions. Dozens more courses are to be added later as the member universities roll out new courses and new universities join GUA. |
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