Pearson partners with Leeds University to offer online degrees

Pearson has partnered with the University of Leeds to offer online degree programmes.

The partnership will see Pearson develop and deliver 12 online Masters-level degree programmes to Leeds' students, with the first course, a fully online MBA taught and accredited by the University of Leeds’ award-winning Business School, opening for applications this week.

This partnership builds on Leeds’ reputation in digital learning, having been the first Russell Group university to introduce credit-bearing Massive Open Online Courses, delivered through FutureLearn, which have attracted over 750,000 joiners since its launch.

The University was named Times/Sunday Times University of the Year 2017.

Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor, University of Leeds said: “This initiative highlights our unfailing commitment to flexible and inclusive education and the adoption of cutting edge educational technologies. It will also give international profile to research-based learning, one of the hallmarks of a Leeds education.”

John Fallon, chief executive of Pearson added: “Online degrees have the power to transform lives, allowing ever more learners in the UK and around the world to benefit from high quality, flexible, career-relevant education. Through this partnership with the University of Leeds we’ll be doing just that, combining Leeds’ world-leading reputation with Pearson’s expertise.”

Professor Tom Ward, deputy vice-chancellor of student education, said: “In a higher education landscape that has become increasingly globalised, technology plays a key role, enabling high quality interactions and bringing learners together to share cultural experiences. Our new online courses open up access to higher education. This is important for the future, in which flexibility in how courses will be offered is key.”

While courses can be completed over two years, students will have up to four years so that they can balance study and personal commitments. Study will include online video seminars and interactive engagement with lecturers and other students.

Under the partnership between Leeds and Pearson, online course development and content, teaching, assessment and award, and student services will be provided by Leeds. Pearson will be responsible for student recruitment, front line student support and retention services.

In the future the partnership plans to launch further courses in areas such as Business, Engineering and Medicine and Health.

Pearson has already previously partnered with Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Exeter to develop online degrees and work together on international research. The publisher currently has more than 45 partnerships spanning three continents and has been responsible for over 300,000 online course starts, serving over 70,000 students worldwide.