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Jamie Littlefield

University of the People: World's First Free, Peer-to-Peer Online College

By , About.com Guide   March 13, 2009

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Next month, the first tuition-free, peer-to-peer college opens its doors to new enrollees. The University of the People plans to offer two bachelor degree programs: a BA in Business Administration and a BSc in Computer Science.

Instead of traditional textbooks, students will rely on OpenCourseWare material provided for free by other universities. Instead of working directly with teachers, students will complete assignments working as peer groups. There will be nominal fees for admissions and testing. But, students won't be charged for tuition.

A recent news release from the University of the People explains:
"UoP will be able to effectively function on a limited budget without sacrificing quality of education by using collaborative and open-source eLearning. UoP will embrace peer-to-peer teaching to make the best use of a student body from around the world. Within online study communities, students will share resources, exchange ideas, discuss weekly topics, submit assignments and take exams. The curriculum will be supported by respected scholars. A community of educators, comprised of active and retired professors, librarians, master level students and other professionals, will participate and oversee the assessment process."
Enrollment is limited to 300 students for the first semester, beginning this September. Although the school is not currently accredited, administrators plan to seek accreditation after the required wait time.

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