Open University: An Emerging Technology in the Philippines

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For the coming years, Kunkel (2014) noted the following as few of the expansive themes and educational methods that are expected to be significant to future entrepreneurship education models and university curricula:

*Open Systems with Continuous Access focuses on future educational models that deliver both quality and scalability of learning means to generate a biodiversity of scholarly information. Universities are becoming more flexible and permissible to students in leaving and re-entering the system putting equal outlook in attracting former students to return to school as they appeal to first-time students. (Costello et al, 2014, pp. 155-157)

*Blended Boundaries learning deals with acknowledging the inevitable connectedness of human endeavors and life stage. The segmented activities of play-learn-work will evolve into four portions: play (childhood), learn (childhood to adulthood), work (adult) and play (retirement). In the coming years, educational models will maximize what encore learners can share to the younger learners and universities will become age-free as they foster and assist in a modified peer-to-peer learning that teach across generations without any demarcation. (Louw, 2011, pp. 426-428)

*Human Connectivity. It is an important aspect that will still be employed with the help of technology; effective crowd-based learning is the future of learning. Professors’ future role may revert to mentoring and tutoring, as more knowledge dissemination will take place outside the classroom set-up and greater degree of integration and tutoring are more likely to occur within the classroom.

*Integrated wholeness. Universities of the future will take part in designing and providing the meaning and purpose to scholarly experience. This will ensure that individual skills like leadership and the repositioning of values from profits to people are incorporated into both the curriculum and experience learning opportunities.

*Solution-focused. Investigating and analyzing solutions to challenges will be relied upon more than problem-based methodology. Distinguishing sustainable solutions as a long-term way of addressing any conflicts or obstacles will be the educator’s focal point. This will assist in preparing students to become strategic global thinkers and problem solvers.

*Rise of Open University Systems/ Distance Learning. In an Open University or Distance Learning, is where a student does not have to go to the traditional classroom session. Learning will be conducted online, where student are then required follow an online module where its main characteristic is the physical separation of the learner from the teacher. The main feature of this method is independent self-learning where students study at their own pace. (Hauser, Paul, and Bradley, 2012, p. 142)

*Gamification refers to the application of digital game design techniques to non-game contexts, such as business, education, and social challenges to engage the learner. It is mostly used for complex problem solving or product development for some companies and children, absent the element of risk. Personalization is where the course is tailor-fit based on the ability and needs of the learner. (Pollanen, Cater, and Kang, 2015, pp. 1-2) In Coursera.org (2015), a gamification course has a weight of 12 units with online sessions that require four to eight hours a week.

*SaaS (School as a Service), also known as coporate university, provides private organizations with their own school and market to internally manage online degrees and certification programs for its human resources with the end goal of SaaS of attracting, training, developing, and retaining recruits in highly technical fields such as but not limited to programming, mobile application development, and financial services. (Alagaraja and Li, 2015, pp. 5-6)

There is a clear and promising horizon awaiting the future of the educational sector. The global platform is the change-makers’ arena to maximize technology that can assist education in the coming years. (Sullivan, 2013) It must be emphasized that many aspects should be taken into consideration to be able to construct a well-rounded, competitive and flourishing educational system across the world.

C. SWOT Analysis

Opportunities

Threats

1.)

Partnership with companies

1.)

Global Competitors

2.)

International Accreditation (outside APJ)

2.)

Rise of outsourcing

3.)

ASEAN Integration

3.)

Poor quality, expensive internet connection

4.)

Offer scholarships through external partners

Strength

Growth Strategies

Diversifying Strategies

1.)

Strong Domestic Branding

S1 O1

Offer companies online MBA

S1 T1

Open up international opportunities

2.)

Pioneer in the Philippines since February 23, 1995

3.)

Established technology

S5 O4

Scholarships for less fortunate individuals

S3 T3

Offer programs that are not heavy with internet bandwidth

4.)

Developed Curriculum

5.)

CHED accredited and recognitions

S1 O3

Offer student exchange immersion programs

6.)

Online