Abstract
As society delves further into the second decade of the XXI century and the importance of youth participation and involvement on the internet within the information society becomes more and more evident, so does education and higher learning for new generations become more and more important.
Therefore, in light of the recently renewed EU enlargement paradigm, the purpose of this article will be the documentation and presentation of free online education, thus a new wave of free learning. One of the most interesting aspects of this investigation, amongst others, is the impressive amount of prestigious international universities that offer a high number of courses in a wide range of subjects, such as Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies, European University Institute in Florence, etc.
According to the reviewed literature , there are some opinions that would state that distance education can provide a richer and more engaging educational experience than it is possible within the confines of a classroom, as such a process would require creativity and innovation in the design and development of Internet-delivered materials, especially since materials may have to stand alone, and in the use of delivery technologies. The same issues of quality and effectiveness that exist in the classroom occur in distance education, often compounded by the delivery mechanism and lack of contact between students and teachers and between peers.
Distance education existed long before the Internet, but it has become more prevalent and has changed significantly through technological advances. All sectors, especially higher education, corporate training, and continuing and professional education, want to take advantage of Internet technologies to provide education, training, and collaboration capabilities to geographically dispersed populations to enhance educational experiences and increase enthusiasm for learning. |