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The Distance Education and Training Council’s (DETC) most recent member survey indicated that among its members main concerns is remaining competitive as distance education becomes more popular.
Members cited the need to stay ahead of burgeoning distance education competition and the desire to introduce new programs among their chief concerns.
The Program Development Challenge
One of the greatest challenges facing all colleges and universities is the need to develop and deploy new degree programs. The need to do so rapidly and with extraordinary quality further complicates the issue.
Most colleges and universities are not configured to quickly develop and deploy new education programs. They are staffed by experts, and often serve under bureaucratic accreditation regimes, which slows down their ability to quickly create and offer programs.
Cost Barriers
Further, even if schools are able to quickly configure new programs, the cost to develop and deploy them is prohibitive, especially when there is no guarantee of a payback.
As a result, most schools limit themselves to the “standard” degree programs, both in the classroom and in their online and distance learning operations. In the distance education marketplace, they compete head-to-head with other schools who offer almost exactly the same product as they do.
The Dilemma
Consequently, schools such as those featured in the DETC survey results sit on the sharp tip of a dilemma: they need to differentiate themselves from the 1800 other schools offering the convenience of distance education, yet lack to ability to bring new products to market.
Partnering To Increase Enrollments
Outsource Degree Programs
Progressive institutions of higher education have begun to think in terms of outsource solutions to resolve many of their operating issues. Outsourcing degree programs is one sensible approach to solving their program development dilemmas
Advantages of Outsourcing
Outsourcing degree programs offers colleges and universities several important advantages:
- Rapid Development - Often, degree programs can be tailored and launched within 30 days
- Creative Product - Degrees are easily configured to meet innovative and unique market niches
- Cost Effectiveness - The cost to create and deploy degrees is significantly less than the cost of doing it in-house, both in terms of time and money
Outsourcing Options
Schools may choose from several outsource degree options:
- Turnkey Comprehensive Programs - in which schools may contract out the entire development, deployment and delivery process, including faculty
- Content-Only Programs - in which schools may contract out the development process, but deploy and deliver the degrees themselves, employing their own faculty members
- Blended Programs - in which schools may contract out any a portion of the overall process
Next: Is Outsourcing Right For You?
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