2016 was a big year for online education. During the 2016-2017 period, more high school graduates opted for an online bachelor’s degree program than ever before. The decision to study online is a very popular decision among younger people, with both students and professionals now pursuing higher degrees and certifications.
That big shift towards online education continues to grow across the state. Experts believe that online education will be more popular than the more conventional offline courses by 2020. How does this trend benefit students and other stakeholders in Iowa?
More Programs from Top Universities
There are several reasons why online courses, both university programs and certifications, are very popular. For starters, online courses are relatively more affordable than the equivalent offline programs. Students today actively seek new ways to save on their education, which makes the best online courses that much more appealing.
It is also worth noting that there is a significant increase in quality. Top universities are offering many of their distance learning programs online. These courses follow the same strict standards and are fully accredited, making online degrees equally valuable on the market.
The University of Iowa is one of the leading universities when it comes to online courses. There are 40 programs that students can select, from the Bachelor of Applied Studies to Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. All of these courses are just a few clicks away; they are also available to students from all parts of the country.
Updated Curriculum and Market Challenges
Online courses have the ability to stay current and up to date. The online programs of top universities respond better to market challenges and industry demands, making the curriculums more relevant in many ways. Aside from conventional degrees, we now see new focuses such as an MBA in digital marketing or business analytics, which are designed to be in tune with market needs.
In return, stakeholders on the market appreciate and value online degrees as highly as they would offline degrees. The trend started earlier last year and was one of the reasons why students take online courses more seriously as a way to build a brighter future.
The agility of online courses is not without its own challenges. Universities must work twice as hard in keeping up with market challenges and recognizing the necessary challenges.
Specific Skills and Certifications
It is also interesting to note that the shift towards online education is also affecting those seeking a specific set of skills and certifications. In IT, top certifications for Oracle and SAP can now be acquired online. Other fields are following suit; the Michigan Builders License & Continuing Competency now offers programs through its website, https://www.michiganbuilderslicense.com/.
What do all of these changes and new trends mean? It is clear that online education is here to stay and that the positive impact of online programs is starting to affect our society. In the near future, there will be more skilled workers supporting businesses across Iowa. This will lead to higher market growth and more positive impacts for all stakeholders.
About time – can not afford those millionaire professors or sport coaches anymore – they selfishly destroyed themselves and their billion dollar colleges – plus half of their professors are socialist/liberals or just plain snowball wierdos.