Online Learning

6 trends shaping the fast-evolving online business education landscape in 2026

Changing learner expectations, new delivery models and AI are prompting institutions to rethink how they deliver value to individuals and organizations.

How Coursera’s latest move shakes up the upskilling movement

The popular OPM's 15% platform fee signifies other sectors seek to gain a foothold in the upskilling industry, particularly in artificial intelligence, one expert warns. 

Bridging the Gap Between Online Learning & Belonging: A Digital Master Plan

Date & Time: Tuesday, November 11th at 2 p.m. ET

In this 30-minute Ed Talk, Dr. Andrew Feldstein, Assistant Provost at Fort Hays State University, will share how his university is using a comprehensive Digital Master Plan in response to survey data that said only 47% of online learners felt connected to peers, while 61% had no interaction outside of required coursework.

Attendees who join the live event will be able to participate in a ThoughtExchange workshop to share and rank the best practices from their peers on how to strengthen online learning.

Building a Business Case for Online Growth: Financial Modeling

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 30th at 2 p.m. ET

Whether you’re building an online program, revitalizing an existing one, or fine-tuning your approach to online education, this 30-minute Ed Talk will equip you with information and skills to build effective financial models to help you build buy-in and support.

Here are 4 pain points amid the new normal of online learning

Nearly 80% of chief online learning officers say the asynchronous and hybrid market is more competitive than it was five years ago, according to this survey.

Micro-credentials grow more popular in the U.S. and beyond

Appetite for industry-aligned micro-credentials—among learners entering the workforce and employers seeking skilled candidates—is nearly universal, according to a new report from Coursera.

OPM partnerships decline, forcing higher ed to fee-for-service

The $5 billion Online Program Management industry is transforming, with partnerships declining and a growing shift to fee-for-service models.

Graduate and online enrollment: How to succeed on a tight budget

Graduate and online enrollment teams face constrained budgets even as their work becomes a higher priority for institutions nationwide, according to an EAB survey.

Building Online Programs in the Age of AI: A Strategic Framework for Success

Date & Time: Tuesday, December 10 at 2 p.m. ET

In this 30-minute Ed Talk, a chief strategist will discuss core strategies in academic affairs, student support, and market insights to elevate online program quality and the essential role of AI policy in today’s academic landscape.

Where is the OPM market headed right now?

Since its peak in the second half of 2021 and the first half of 2022, total funding for OPMs has declined 97% up through the first half of 2024, according to Validated Insights.

Report: Adult online learners are money-motivated. Are your programs supporting their career goals?

Ninety percent of online learners are pursuing a credential for career-related reasons, and they're willing to enroll further from where they live to find the right fit, according to a new report from Risepoint.

Unlocking Faculty Engagement: Strategies to Power Your Online Growth

Date & Time: Tuesday, October 8th at 2 pm ET

In this UB Ed Talk, learn how to create a holistic strategy that not only grows your online programs but also secures the full buy-in of your faculty. We will share success stories from higher ed institutions and delve into how online education can expand the reach and impact of faculty members, making online learning a valuable addition to their teaching portfolio.

Despite growth of online tools, these pains jeopardize faculty buy-in

Flooded with emerging technology and without institutional guidance, faculty are burnt out and questioning the sector, a report from WGU Labs found.

Facing headwinds, can institutions ramp up popular online degree programs?

Tight budgets, half-formed institutional strategies and a turbulent online program manager market are impeding chief online learning officers from advancing innovative programs—despite more than half stating their enrollment is growing faster than on-campus programs.

Is online learning still popular after the pandemic ended?

75% of college students took distance education courses in 2020. Leaders should know that this is still a popular option post-pandemic.

How one coaching program connects leaders to students in a lonely world

"The ability to connect with another human to bounce ideas off of is going to become even more important when an increasing percent of the internet is auto generated," says Casey Clark, a dean at Western Governors University who recently earned his coaching certification.

Course-sharing? Make sure you follow these 4 quality assurance checks

As quality assurance tightens across online learning, colleges and universities can now better gauge how much value course-sharing consortiums are providing to students.

11 tips to boost your pool of online students in 2024

Studying over 3,000 current, former, and prospective online students during fall 2023, a new report by EducationDynamics dives deep into online students' motivations and aspirations and the way they consume information. 

Nearly 90% of staff report major barriers between traditional and emerging academic programs

In the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers' (AACRAO) new survey on how institutions are mediating PCE units' coexistence with the academic registrar, they found that one-siloed PCE units that are now converging with the academic registrar are causing internal tension and confusion.

More than 40% of today’s online students are previous college stop-outs: report

A new report by Wiley found that half of today’s online students had previously stopped out of a college-level degree or program and one-third are first-generation students.

Why higher education must be reinvented to suit the new generation of students

Institutions must reconsider fostering coming-of-age experiences for young adults as its main business model to a knowledge service whose programs are as fluid as tomorrow's students, according to an Ernst & Young report.

Online students: Who are they and how can you win more of them?

Thirty percents all students enrolled in higher education in 2021 were enrolled online. As online study rises in the mainstream, schools can start with these tools to earn their favor.

How to give students what they want in an online class

Above all, students want access to course information regarding technology use and instructors' expectations and syllabi prior to enrolling in an online course, according to a just-released study.

How a college’s mobile app connects students when they can’t connect

Allowing students to download assignments so they complete their work offline is a key feature of Casper College's new mobile app.

3 ways college students are feeling about online learning in 2022

Students increasingly expect their schools to offer academic support, career counseling and even social activities online, according to the 2022 CIN EdTech Student Survey by the College Innovation Network at Western Governors University.

How badly did study abroad programs suffer this past school year?

During the 2020-2021 academic year, participation in the programs declined by 96% compared to the previous year, according to a new report from Open Doors.

Can students recover when campus closures dim their college prospects?

An abrupt campus closure—one that comes without warning and with little planning—can do lasting academic damage, an analysis finds.

By the numbers: How different is this fully online university from a traditional one?

Western Governors University president says, 'there's something about just saying we’ve got to disrupt this centuries-old convention that exists.'

The metaverse: Are colleges really light years away from reaching it?

Virtual lectures are nice, but becoming far more interactive over the next 5-10 years should be goal for higher ed leaders.

Howard University goes online amid spike in COVID-19 cases, low quarantine space

With commencement ceremonies a month away and the city seeing a 140% increase, the university isn't taking chances.

Is competency-based education really the elixir higher ed needs to survive?

Southern New Hampshire University President Paul LeBlanc discusses its merits, saying a shift to outcomes can 'unleash innovation.'

How one innovative president sees the unknown future of higher ed developing

Arizona State University's Michael Crow discusses the future of college degrees, lifelong learning, STEM and new technologies.

Will COVID fatigue prevent colleges from new mandates when cases rise?

As institutions have lessened protocols and talked up an endemic phase, a new variant is lurking and spreading rapidly.

College works: Employers say they plan to rev up hiring of 2022 graduates

NACE survey shows massive interest in young workers and a willingness to have them work remotely.

Can higher ed make it through April without big COVID spikes?

One big institution has abandoned most of its mitigation strategies, including contact tracing and isolation.