IBL News | New York
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), a member institution of the University of London, became the first university to launch a series of edX micro-credentials — two MicroBachelors programs and a MOOC — that provide learners with a stackable pathway towards a full Bachelor’s degree.
2U’s brand edX (Nasdaq: TWOU) announced the partnership with LSE yesterday. The two MicroBachelors programs are Statistics Fundamentals and Mathematics and Statistics Fundamentals, as well as a free MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on foundational mathematics titled An Introduction to Pre-University Mathematics, scheduled for 2023.
“This is the first truly stackable path to a fully online undergrad degree,” said 2U Co-Founder and CEO Christopher “Chip” Paucek.
Each of LSE’s new MicroBachelors programs includes four transferable, university-level courses. They are priced at $896.40, each. Upon completion, the students will be able to apply to online undergraduate degree programs from the University of London.
“The innovative offering creates an incredible opportunity for us to further increase our global impact by providing a vast community of learners with a clear pathway to gain the critical mathematics and statistics knowledge to achieve academic success,” said Wim Van der Stede, Academic Dean for Extended Education at LSE.
According to edX, its partnership has played a role in LSE’s strategy to expand its educational offerings and make teaching, learning, and research accessible to people who wouldn’t have been able to access the institution in traditional formats.
To date, over 26,000 learners have completed online certificate courses offered through LSE and 2U, and over 1,000 students have enrolled in its online undergraduate degrees powered by 2U.
“Creating new pathways to degree attainment is an essential part of edX’s mission to unlock the potential of our community of 45 million learners worldwide,” said Christopher “Chip” Paucek.
