The digital age is changing the world of education: With innovative teaching and learning formats, students are experiencing a whole new way of learning. Because they learn from everywhere – from abroad, while traveling, between changing diapers and business meetings. Knowledge transfer must be consistently rethought.
Home schooling, remote work, online events: all apply to today’s world. Digitalization gives us great opportunities: because it means more flexibility and more freedom. It gives us the freedom to work from anywhere in the world and to continue our education whenever our individual life situation allows. It eliminates rigid structures in which people have to sit across from each other in order to communicate, in which interaction between learners and teachers is one-dimensional. It enables interpersonal communication across all barriers. Knowledge is always available: Anywhere, anytime. Knowledge becomes borderless.
Digitalization in education
Countries must invest more in digital education! A much-heard demand. Education, however, remains largely a state matter. The pandemic year 2020 has shown: In some places, things went well, while in others it was difficult to spontaneously develop digital education concepts. State-run universities have also been busy making adjustments: Lectures and exams were held virtually in some cases, and state libraries were set up for contactless book delivery. It quickly became clear that spontaneous knee-jerk actions without a long-term strategy would come to nothing. By 2020, many universities had no concept for the future that would enable knowledge transfer across all barriers.
Distance learning – flexible and at your pace
The situation is different with distance learning universities. They have long understood that education in the 21st century needs to be rethought. As in all areas of life, the demands on teaching, learning and personal development have changed. In a globalized world, people primarily want freedom and flexibility. And with the technical means we have today, this is possible. Our students learn from Panama or California, alongside their jobs, on business trips and at night when the kids are asleep.
«One thing is already certain: Covid has catapulted us two to three years into the future. Home office instead of face-to-face culture, video conferencing instead of business trips, flexible digital learning instead of location-based group training. Digital tools are increasingly being integrated into everyday working life as a matter of course. At IU International University, we have been practicing online study based on pure online teaching for almost ten years, and with great success. In fact, the use of digital tools works much better in virtual space. Digitization is not a question of systems, but of people who know and can use the opportunities of digitization.» Dr. Sven Schütt, CEO of Career Partner GmbH.
Studying without barriers
In addition to greater flexibility, digital learning formats create one thing above all: accessibility. After all, steep stairs in the Audimax and classic lectures on campus are a difficult hurdle to overcome for people with disabilities. Inclusion in education is now also part of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This puts an end to patchy individual measures. Departments and institutions are now responsible for providing barrier-free teaching and learning. Studying with a handicap will hopefully be a matter of course in the future.
Voices of our students about freedom in distance learning
«We are currently traveling through California. So it is and will remain an exciting journey – and my distance learning is always along for the ride.»
Gianna – Distance Learning Student Business Psychology
«How do I manage to balance my studies, job and my family of seven? My friends affectionately call me «mommy-functional» – that sums it up quite well. One unbeatable advantage of distance learning is that it requires no attendance time at all.»
Sandra – Distance Learning Student Business Psychology
«I have been visually impaired since early childhood due to a rheumatic disease and blind since the age of 15. Distance learning is an ideal alternative, especially for people with impairments and chronic illnesses: learning phases, breaks and learning workload can be arranged freely and according to individual needs.»
Dennis – Distance Learning Social Work Student
«I’m Lisanne, 26 years old and I live, work and study on the water – more precisely on a German inland vessel. On board, the MBA studies work out wonderfully for me, as I can manage my time freely.»
Lisane – Distance Learning Master of Business Administration Student
