NEW SCHOOL UNIVERSITY TO FORM STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
(New York, NY – January 27, 2003) New School University announced today that it intends to form a strategic alliance with Britain's Open University to enable the two institutions to work closely together in distance and online education. As a starting point for the alliance, President Bob Kerrey of New School University and Vice Chancellor Brenda Gourley of The Open University signed an agreement today between The Open University Worldwide (USA) and New School University at a ceremony held at New School University to offer an online course developed by The Open University and offered by the New School Online University on its distance learning platform. This will be the first time that New School University has collaborated with another University in distance learning.
Bob Kerrey was a strong advocate and supporter of online education when he served as Senator from the state of Nebraska. On announcing the partnership President Kerrey remarked, "This partnership represents a challenging new set of opportunities for us to work with our colleagues at The Open University to expand access to and generate significant interest in new programs and academic offerings for both our institutions. The Open University's rich history in distributed learning - spanning over three decades - coupled with New School Online University's highly successful online teaching and learning model will bring a new power and vibrancy to the online education arena."
Professor Brenda Gourley, who is the first woman to lead The Open University and joined the University after a distinguished career as Vice Chancellor of the University of Natal in South Africa, added, "The Open University is delighted to join with New School University in this exciting new alliance. We have an enormous respect for the history and achievements of New School University. Our two institutions share a similar set of beliefs and values. We are both committed to academic excellence and to providing the working adult with a very positive learning experience. I have no doubt that by working closely together both universities will achieve a great deal in the coming years."
In what is intended as the beginning of many collaborative projects, New School Online University will offer this spring 2003 a new online course developed by The Open University, "Managing Finance & Information," and will be offered under the auspices of the New School University's Milano Graduate School. The course is part of a planned five-course program leading to a "Certificate in Management." The program is designed for managers who want focused management education, but who do not have the time, resources or need for an M.B.A. The Open University Business School, which is the largest business school in Europe, developed the Certificate in Management.
New School University will explore ways to make its existing courses and programs, particularly in art and design through its acclaimed Parsons School of Design and in Media Studies through The New School, available to students enrolled in The Open University.
New School Online University (NSOU) is the University's virtual campus, extending teaching and learning at New School University into the online environment. Distance learning courses, online enhancement of campus courses, and public programs and discussions are available through the NSOU portal. Using an Internet connection, one can enter the online campus from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More than 300 hundred courses are offered in the full distance-learning environment with more than 2,000 credit and non-credit students. To find out more about NSOU, visit www.dialnsa.edu or go to www.newschool.edu and click on to Online University. NSOU offers a B.A. in liberal studies, an M.A. in Media Studies, and a Certificate in Media Management.
The Open University is the United Kingdom's largest and most innovative university with more than 200,000 people studying its courses. Over twenty-two percent of all part-time higher education students in the UK are registered with The Open University. The University is ranked amongst the top ten of all UK universities for the quality of its teaching. Its courses are considered to be among the world's best distance education materials and regularly achieve awards for their innovation.
The Open University began offering courses overseas in 1982. Today, the University has 28,823 overseas students and 42,170 students in collaborative teaching programs. Most courses are available to all residents of the European Union. In other countries The Open University works in partnership with local universities, colleges and companies. Since its establishment by Royal Charter in 1969, the University has opened the door to higher education for more than 2 million people.
For more information on the New School University and Open University Program, call Stephen J. Anspacher at 212-229-5880 or e-mail: [email protected].
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New School University, with 7,000 matriculated students and 25,000 continuing education students, is a New York City University committed to critical scholarship, artistic integrity, and ethical responsibility in the social sciences, humanities, the arts and design. It is comprised of a liberal arts foundation of three schools: The New School, Eugene Lang College and the Graduate Faculty of Political and Social Science, and five professional schools: Parsons School of Design, Mannes College of Music, Actors Studio Drama School, Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy, and the Jazz & Contemporary Music Program. New School Online University offers one of the largest selections of online courses in the nation. For further information about admission to New School University, call (877) 5Ave-321 or go to the Web site at www.newschool.edu.