What Does The Future Hold For Online Education?

Online education opportunities are currently available in countries like Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United States, where higher education is affordable and the Internet is readily accessible. There are also many other countries, however, that do not have the resources to support higher education and would greatly benefit from accessing existing e-learning.

Affordability is the biggest barrier for international students seeking higher educational opportunities. While U.S. students enjoy a variety of financial aid options, such as savings, loans, grants, and employment, most international students may not have all these options available. At public institutions, international and other non-resident students are usually subject to a higher tuition rate.

Technological and legal obstacles also are pressing issues for would-be online students. Some countries use cellular phone technology to support their telecommunications networks and lack the necessary equipment to provide substantial Internet access. Until more developmental advances are made in the field of cellular technology, students will not be able to access the lectures and courses using their wireless networks.

Legal and regulatory issues also prevent international students from accessing e-learning. Important laws and regulations are not applicable in all regions. For example, copyright and plagiarism laws protecting authors and writers in the United States may not exist in other countries, leaving many texts and materials susceptible to copyright infringement that cannot be prosecuted outside of the United States. Leading educational institutions do not want to be victimized, but have no established system to investigate international copyright infringements, ensure international student identification, and enforce entry requirements for international students. Unclear language or vague, undefined laws need to be replaced with precise regulations to be agreed upon by both the host country and the student’s country of residence.

Fortunately, many distinguished organizations are actively developing processes and systems to combat these issues to allow students seeking online higher education internationally.