With colleges and universities cutting back on places for students, student visa requirements becoming ever more stringent, and faculty and staff being laid off, online study opens doors for both students and teachers to work from home and at their own pace. The recession is here for some time, and it is clear that government funding cuts will have an impact well into the future. But this does not mean that students cannot have a college education since there are options for Distance Learning.
At the forefront of Distance Learning in Ireland is Warnborough College Ireland which has been offering online programmes since 1997. Its sister college in the UK was established in 1973 and has a reputable reputation for offering onsite study in Canterbury for accredited qualifications offered by the Association of Business Executives, and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers, as well as over 350 short vocational courses in a diverse range of subjects.
Playing on this experience, Warnborough College Ireland has created a range of programmes that are receiving considerable interest. Students may begin study at any time, and all students have their own individual mentor to assist them with their study needs. Our Irish and international academics work with students from Ireland and around the world. Fees are kept affordable with scholarships available to deserving students. Students can also design their own payment plan.
Because distance learning does not require massive investment into big campus facilities, the College does not have to pass those costs on to students. The focus on distance learning is on academic quality and user experience. The College’s systems are underpinned by ISO9001:2000 quality management principles and the College is currently undergoing peer review accreditation.
Warnborough College provides free course counselling so students can discuss the options available to them before committing to any programme of study. Distance learning is for serious and motivated students, and not a short-cut to a degree. Many distance learning students are working adults who do not have the time to attend a campus-based education. The flexibility of self-paced learning allows them to study around work, family and other commitments.
Online education is the way of the future, and this is evidenced by more and more universities moving in this direction. As a pioneer in modern distance learning, Warnborough College is proud that it is able to provide educational opportunities and promote a quality Irish education overseas.