Online learning continues to expand in Canada, with post-secondary institutions offering yieldable access to programs and courses throughout the country – this according to the 2019 Digital Learning and Tracking Online in Canada survey.
The findings of the national survey highlight the expanding interest in online and digital learning. Commenting is Research Director, Nicole Johnson.
“The 2019 survey results show continued growth in online course enrolments across all sectors of Canadian post-secondary education. Nearly three-quarters of all institutions reported that online learning is very or extremely important for the institution’s long-term plan,” she says.
Among the survey’s key findings, the majority of institutions view online learning as a means to help increase access to post-secondary studies for students, and as a result, online course registrations are on the rise.
In a climate where universities and colleges are aiming to stay technologically relevant, the survey’s findings are more in line with students’ desire for more accessible, more affordable higher education and learning. For example, access to online courses can cut down on some of the fees associated with living on campus as well as reduce transportation costs.
As the price of tuition continues to increase in Canada, students and their parents are looking for ways to help offset those costs. Registered education savings plans (RESPs) are a way to actively save money for post-secondary education. RESPs from providers such as Children’s Education Funds Inc. (CEFI) have an extra feature that makes them unique from other investment portfolios and registered accounts in the form of government grants.
If studying online is the student’s first choice, which as mentioned above has become increasingly popular, then students can apply some of their RESP funds toward equipment such as a laptop, desk or tablet.
The benefits of taking post-secondary courses online vary from student-to-student. The pros can include lower total costs, a more comfortable learning environment, convenience and flexibility, career advancement, and improved technical skills. From traditional four-year universities to online career programs, higher education today offers a variety of options for students.
