Today’s educational landscape is going through a revolution unlike any we’ve ever seen before, and the e-learning industry growth isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The global online learning industry is sporting massive annual growth of 19% or more per year, and it’s set to be a $243 billion industry within two years. By 2026, the global e-learning industry is projected to reach $336.98 billion. Mobile learning (m-learning) is one of the fastest growing markets in e-learning, with an annual growth of 23%. In the UK, the completion rate for online higher education and further education is between 70% and 80% (UK Gov). And digital learning is the quickest growing market in the education industry, with a whopping 900% growth since 2000 (see E-Learning Industry).
Partnerships with resident UK universities are the core component of Jane Addams’ strategic plan. Resident university partners bring established reputations, expertise in higher education, qualified instructional staffs, access to established markets, and resources that include well developed curriculum throughout key academic disciplines. Jane Addams brings access to new sources of revenue to university partners, expertise in online course design and conversion, curriculum development, and innovations to access under-served international student markets (Appendix F).
Partnership with a proprietary higher education institution creates opportunities for additional significant revenues for resident UK partner universities in the form of tuition fee percentages for the use of their existing curriculum and international recruitment. 85% of tuition fees are paid to the resident university for use of their existing online curriculum and for access to the tens of thousands of overseas students who are turned away each year for lack of space. These are revenue streams that are otherwise untapped for the university partners going through their own facility-heavy system.
The strength of combined resources and innovative approaches means a distinct competitive edge for Jane Addams and its resident UK university partners. Jane Addams, resident university partners, and under-served international students all benefit financially from the partnership while keeping costs low. This is possible through a combination of Jane Addams’ initiatives in compensation and the sharing of resources. These resources include existing curriculum and already qualified and screened overseas students seeking international graduate degrees. Providing postgraduate degrees through online and distance learning partnership initiatives allows teaching and learning costs to remain relatively low while delivering a state-of-the-art service to these under-served international students (Appendix G).
Partnerships with UK resident universities are the foundation of the initiative. The overseas students who are currently being turned away for lack of space are offered the opportunity to attend a leading UK university online in working towards their postgraduate degrees. The strategic advantages of the partnerships are both immediate and long range. Resident universities have an immediate and effective means to address funding shortages. In the process, UK government directives to widen access through transnational education partnerships are amply met along with significant savings to overseas students in residential costs. A short summer residency for completion and graduation would be a part of every degree program. New income streams to the resident university partners, participating international students, and Jane Addams Institute are ongoing benefits.
TNE Partnership Advantages
Jane Addams Institute operates through a combination of 1) a ‘lean team’ approach and outsourcing where expedient, that keep services high and costs low, 2) student recruitment from international postgraduate applicants who have already applied for a UK university placement, but enrolment limitations had turned them down. These applicants, already in the UK partners database, will be offered placements in a chosen number of existing online and distance learning postgraduate degree courses. For international students, this means a very significant savings in both accommodation and travel costs. A shorter summer term and graduation ceremonies on the partner university campus will be available as a part of every postgraduate programme.
Finally, while most TNE partnerships do not often generate significant increased revenue for the UK university, charging between 35% to 80% for their services, Jane Addams Institute offers its full suite of services in a TNE partnership for 20% of new international student postgraduate taught course fees offered by the partnership through online and distance learning. The pilot targets four existing online and distance learning postgraduate degree courses currently offered by the UK university partner. It will offer 150 places for international students in each program. The UK university partner offers the courses through their existing Learning Management System (LMS) and distance learning materials, and it employs regular or additional instructional staffs. This will help in student continuity and in turn, the UK university partner will benefit from 80% of tuition revenues.
Jane Addams can bring any online or distance learning course into the highest level of quality through the assurance of active learning pedagogies, engaging instructional strategies, and target technologies to help assure student satisfaction, retention, and completion. Jane Addams can help bring existing campus courses into hybrid, online, and distance learning environments. Jane Addams can also help build new online curriculum including full postgraduate degree courses (Appendix H).
Another of Jane Addams initiatives is its innovative online global community campus. It was designed to engage students in diverse locations in their social interactions and growth while seeking their UK university degrees. The innovative online campus brings all of the hallmarks of a residential campus to international students including a campus union, a multicultural centre, a museum of science and industry, an art gallery, a recreation centre, a bookstore, a library, and much more. All of these halls and centres have places for fellow students to get together and platforms for student participation in a wide variety of campus activities.
Jane Addams also brings relevant leadership and successful transnational business expertise having founded businesses and led initiatives in England, Scotland, China, Canada, and the US. Jane Addams Institute brings a complementary suite of experience and expertise to their UK TNE partnerships, be that in one area or several.