Online higher education: offering a global perspective

How do I prepare for the challenges of tomorrow? What global trends are going to make an impact on my profession? How can I make new international connections that will advance my career? These are the questions driving professionals in today’s global workforce and leading them to pursue their advanced degrees online. Laureate International Universities (LIU), a leader in online education, offers a global perspective to working professionals through two institutions. The University of Liverpool (an LIU partner) and Walden University (LIU’s flagship online university) are the choice of more than 50,000 students in more than 130 countries worldwide. In just 10 years, the University of Liverpool has grown into the largest provider of 100% online post-graduate education in Europe. The strength of their online programs lies in the quality and diversity of the students—experienced career professionals—and innovative learning methodologies, combined with 100% online delivery. By merging a sophisticated use of technology (built into the program curricula) and a learning methodology that builds on the students’ experiences and expertise, LIU and the University of Liverpool create programs that produce graduates who can become leaders in their field. And now, having successfully ventured into the doctoral market, the University of Liverpool offers a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) in Critical Action Learning and a Doctor of Education – Higher Education (Ed.D.) for ambitious professionals who want to enrich their leadership skills and take their career to the next level. Walden University, a leader in distance learning for more than 40 years, offers a convenient online learning format that allows students to collaborate in the virtual classroom. A global community of learners, Walden measures their success by the success of their students. Through surveys and independent research studies used in their Demonstrating Accountability, Transparency, and Assessment (DATA) project, Walden seeks to continually assess the value of their online degree programs, the learning experience, and the impact the Walden experience has on their students and alumni. They do this to ensure they are offering the highest-quality programs possible, since the most important outcome of all teaching and learning at Walden University is to produce graduates with knowledge, skills, and abilities that can immediately be applied to the workplace. And with 86% of alumni who responded to a survey acknowledging that their Walden degree helped them receive a pay raise, Walden is confident that they are providing relevant degree programs. Walden offers more than 10 doctoral degree programs with more than 80 specializations in a variety of areas of study. Walden’s doctoral programs feature a residency component where students and faculty come together to collaborate and learn from each other. Walden is also the first university to introduce a virtual residency, which gives Ph.D. students from around the world an opportunity to connect with their professional peers without traveling—a desirable option for both international and U.S.-based students. Through an engaging online format, these two universities are able to accomplish so much more than what is offered in a traditional classroom. They are using technology to enhance the educational experience for students, to offer a diverse learning environment, and to broaden access to higher education around the world.