UK-based FutureLearn, founded by The Open University, today announced its first international partnerships with Australia's Monash University and Ireland's Trinity College Dublin.
The University of Edinburgh also joins the list of top-ranking universities set to offer free, open online courses through FutureLearn.Com. FutureLearn's first courses will come online later this year.
FutureLearn was originally launched in December 2012 and now boasts 26 partnerships - including the three announced today - with universities and cultural institutions which bring centuries of rich experience in education.
Today's announcement reinforces FutureLearn's aim to offer high quality courses and enjoyable learning experiences, around the world for free.
People will be able to learn throughout their lives with some of the world's best universities, most inspirational teachers and other learners, fitting learning around their lives, rather than their lives around learning.
FutureLearn CEO, Simon Nelson, said: "Today FutureLearn is adding to its amazing roll-call of partners, announcing partnerships with the University of Edinburgh and its first two international collaborators: Australia's largest university, Monash, and the Republic of Ireland's highest ranked university, Trinity College Dublin.
These three new partners will join top UK institutions to offer high quality courses through FutureLearn. Students world-wide will have access to courses developed by a team that combines the OU's 40 years' expertise in distance learning with the skills of those that have created some of the UK's most enjoyable online consumer experiences."
Monash University Provost and Senior Vice-President Prof Edwina Cornish said the opportunity to expand the University's course offerings and to provide educational opportunities beyond the campus was an exciting expansion of the suite of offerings currently provided by Monash.
"We pride ourselves on being a global educator and we are ranked in the world's top 100 Universities. Our partnership with FutureLearn enhances our endeavours and opens new doors for prospective students seeking an internationally recognised education," Cornish said.
