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University of Hope

Marisa Smith
classroom.jpg

The University of the People, founded by Israeli entrepreneur Shai Reshef, is bringing advanced education to third-world countries.  Reshef and the University of the People's mission is to provide access to quality education for people all across the planet, regardless of geography, and socio-economic status. This Fall 178 students from over 50 countries began attending the university's online courses--while paying nothing for their tuition costs.

Utilizing a social networking format including online study communities and weekly discussion topics, along with online homework and exams, all a student needs is a proficiency in English and internet access in order to attend the university.  For its staff, the UoPeople relies on volunteers, including retired professors, graduate students, and computer specialists.  Dubbed the University of Hope, its goal is to change people's lives and provie an option for the millions of people who feel they have no other options.

 

Image: "A Classroom" by mejymejy on Flickr, courtesy of Creative Commons.

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Comments

+1!good use of techthank you.

Submitted by mountain wind on Fri, 12/04/2009 - 08:04.
+1!good use of techthank you.

Hope or Capitalism?

Submitted by MOR on Mon, 12/14/2009 - 18:10.
While the model is a beautiful idea and I think it should be adopted and expanded - we might want to look at what's really going on here.They are offering studies in ONLY computer science and business administration. The third world has been identified as a source the next cheap labor force for the information age. After all, why pay a computer worker in the US $80 an hour to do something when you can outsource it to a digital sweatshop in Africa?It's worth considering the dangerous consequences of training impoverished people to do the work of the multinational corporations - the current version of this is sweatshops all over the world manufacturing the consumable goods for the 'first' world. Do we really want to replicate that with data entry, technical support and business functions?