return to story

Tuition-Free University Gains a Following

All Reader Comments

page 8 of 10

Ella Elllinghausen Feb 1, 2010 8:27 PM GMT Amazing and wonderful!I would like to participate in the creation of online materials for this Educational/ Humanitarian effort.I am a graphic designer, illustrator and flash designer, and I have a great interest in supporting those who need education. see my website:http://www.bigsnoot.com/EllinghausenPortfolio/all the best,P.E. EllinghausenSeattle WA.
Link to this comment

Aghedo Best Feb 1, 2010 6:09 PM GMT Goodday sir/madamI live in Africa and i will like to further my study in your school,i will be most delighted if you can grant me the opportunity to benefit from this blessing.Thanks
Link to this comment

Kevin Conger Jan 31, 2010 8:29 PM GMT Hopefully this idea will eventually make it into the minds of our "Major Investors"in the business world. Giving an education to anyone who may have missed out due to financial or moral hardship could make the world a better place for everyone. What a great idea this is. I hope this thing really takes off for The Peoples University.
Link to this comment

Kadel Kotoku Jan 29, 2010 12:54 AM GMT I agree with the author fact that education is becoming very expensive and only few can afford it.This is true for students from developing countries who wants to advance in careers in developed countries universities.Accomodation is a key problem follow by feeding and finally the tuition. Even citizens of developed countries find it very difficult to go to colleges because of the high tuition. With the introduction of free universities people of low staus and middle class family can sent their children to attain and help soceity benefit.I think this is a start.Also if the united nation in partnership with world bank and some reputable NGOs can fund these free universities it will make a big deal.
Link to this comment

Steven Ribich Jan 28, 2010 10:47 PM GMT How about having all universities support the free university?Donations to the standard universities can share a small % of their donations to the free one, they can also allow their professors, insturctions take a semester off to teach at the free university.We all really want an educated population, this would be a start, and the credentials provided by the donating universities would give the free university more acceptance. Senior students could also participate, in some way, even getting credit for it....just a thought.....
Link to this comment

ED Jan 28, 2010 6:30 AM GMT Sweden has offered tuition-free university education, on-campus and distance, for domestic and foreign students for many years. It works well and has served to meet many needs. Unfortunately it will probably end in 2011 when a fee will be charged, even if minor by traditional standards.
Link to this comment

Rebecca Jan 28, 2010 3:34 AM GMT I recently received my MBA from a top-ranked university. My business education, both in my undergraduate and graduate studies, put a very heavy emphasis on group learning and projects. I attended a few online classes and found the peer-to-peer learning model extremely effective, especially when the group consisted of a variety of backgrounds. Most U.S. universities are quite focused on group learning and team building, relying less on individual testing and simply regurgitating information. The peer-to-peer model is quite viable for the University of the People, as evidenced by the popularity of the for-profit online universities. I believe this is a noble venture and it would be a shame if they cannot find funding and support.
Link to this comment

Ray Jan 27, 2010 11:02 AM GMT I understand that the university of the people has an ambition to seek accreditation. The question is what accreditation will UOP seek. Which country? Given that their contact information is in the United States, I would assume that US accreditation will be sought. This may translate into higher costs for students not only in the US, but around the world. In terms of being a tuition free university, that remains to be seen. Instead of charging at the front end, UOP charges at the back end. With accreditation comes an increase in operational costs and accountability as enrollment grows and accreditation is maintained. I believe that incremental fee increases for the US and Canadian consumer will place UOP in line with inexpensive online college courses in the US. Regardless of any marginal fee increases, an accredited UOP will be an attractive option for people around the world looking for an accredited American degree. The question is financial sustainability, instructor retention, and cost controls. I noticed that UOP's contact information is in California. California has recently approved legislation re-establishing a state approval process for schools awarding degrees.
Link to this comment

Benjamin Mukasa Jan 27, 2010 3:18 AM GMT I hope this business model works and leads to some price adjustments at universities. At the very least, it should maybe embarrass some of the institutions that put their students 20 years in debt for a degree that is relatively effective in today's job market.The prices of quality college education grew in the 80's and 90's as starting salaries also greatly increased and jobs increased. However, in today's America, salaries are on the decline in most job sectors with contractions in job creation. At the same time, tuitions keep increasing and financial assistance does not keep up. This is all while university endowments and trusts grow to record levels.A close look at how a college education is valued, why it is valued that way and its price is needed because it is putting an entire generation of people in a gigantic whole when they should be their most agile and free.
Link to this comment

Joshua Hunsberger Jan 26, 2010 4:25 PM GMT I wonder if this business model succeeds, how it will change tuition prices for Colleges and Universities? Will Colleges and Universities have to offer more online courses to cut costs and compete?
Link to this comment

Post your own comment about this story…