Singapore did something to combat the rise of China and that’s why they are where they are today. They have positioned themselves as an economic center and an educational center, but they are just a pimple on the edge of Asia. Their rise is partly as a result of fall of the 20th century superpowers of the USA, Europe and Japan. If these super powers were not drowning in debt then Singapore would not be as important on earth since it is today. It is very possible that Shanghai and Singapore could be the leading financial centers on earth very soon.
Previously it appears foreign universities flocked to create in Singapore, but now I do believe the flocking would be to China. They have to flock from the dying 20th century superpowers to survive. And the only places to go are china and taiwan, the near east, the center east, the eastern bloc and several out from the way places that no-one really wants to go to. Now Russia might be the following education center competing with China, or more likely they will be working together.
In the dying 20th century superpowers, universities lived of government funding and government guaranteed student loans. So the price tag on education kept increasing, and that has priced them out from the market place. Now if you want an education it is cheaper World Class University to leave the dying 20th century superpowers, except Germany, and head to the East. There you are able to learn the language of the future along with get yourself a degree. And in the event that you play it right you may get a scholarship from their government, or your government as could be the case in NZ.
Then you can remain on and work in one of many 21st century superpowers.
Now the biggest change to hit mankind since the printing press or fire for that matter, is maneuvering to a university near you. And when it gets there, change could be the word. Will the universities of the 20th century upgrade or downsize, or go extinct to accommodate the new generation. The generation who’ve been raised in front of a display, in cyber space. The generation who can get what they need at the click of a mouse, or the touch of a screen. Are they going to go to a physical campus or a virtual campus? Are their internet friends who they’ve never met going to influence them to go to a virtual campus. Or will their classmates from school drag them off to a real campus. Only time will tell.
MOOCs are an introduction to courses at a real university, but they are also an introduction to the virtual university world of the future. And they introduce the MOOCers to what they could do in cyber space. Exactly how many MOOCers will now attempt an online university as opposed to going to a real campus. The change MOOCs are inflicting on the near future hasn’t got here yet, not surprising they’ve only been with us for a few years. Provide them with time.
Now with the after affects of the 2020 pandemic still with us. Where plenty of graduates still haven’t got jobs, maybe the mindset of enter university at any cost is no more relevant. And cost could be the factor and so could be the major. So where can you get a top notch education at a cost you are able to afford. Try going to the East or cyberspace. It is still cheaper to visit the East now, but that could change as the internet generation comes of age. Also as universities have priced themselves out from the market place and the half-life of everything you learn at university is getting shorter, why head to university. All you want is a diploma in a specific subject and you could get a job. On top of that obtain the diploma while you are working. Not four years later and anything from $20,000 to over $100,000 in debt. And when companies accept MOOCs on a CV then education is free, anyway so far.
Peter Legrove is in the act of writing a new book. One of is own other books in education is all about teaching your young ones to read using phonics and Montessori sandpaper letters. This book is all about MOOCs, what they are, how to do them, and the consequence they might have on the continuing future of education as we realize it. This web site is (c) Copyright Peter LeGrove 2020, All Rights Reserved
