MEXICO: Country targets ex-pats with online degrees

Among the more than two million students starting post-secondary classes in Mexico this semester, an additional 1,000 Mexican citizens logged on from abroad, as the country has expanded an innovative online programme to reach those outside its borders.

Students from 81 countries are enrolled in Mexican courses in a programme spearheaded by the country's Public Education Secretariat (SEP) and delivered through the National Open and Distance Learning University of Mexico (ESAD).

Dr Rodolfo Tuirán, Under-secretary of Higher Education in Mexico, said furthering post-secondary studies for all Mexicans is the primary goal. "The project also seeks to facilitate access to higher education of the population whose social, occupational or residential condition hampers or hinders their incorporation into formal schools."

At a time when Mexico expects domestic higher education to reach record national coverage of 30% by year's end, the government is also looking outside its borders, envisioning this pilot project to boost foreign enrolment in the coming years.

Right now, 33,000 students nationwide are enrolled at the ESAD, which the SEP launched last year. The government has earmarked $21 million for the effort, and will expand its budget to $34 million next year with a goal to enrol 40,000 online students, offering places to increasing numbers of Mexicans abroad, the Ministry of Education has announced.

Tuirán said ESAD will provide an enrollment of around 100,000 students from Mexico and abroad in 2012, and about 150,000 in 2015. Of this total, at least 10,000 in 2012 and 15,000 students in 2015 should be Mexicans living abroad, he said.

The initial flood of applications from students abroad has mirrored the growing demand for higher education stateside and internationally.

For some students living in countries such as the United States, where immigration laws prevent Mexicans from enrolling in post-secondary studies, the Open University is the only way to work towards a degree.

Mexican expatriates accepted into the free university can choose from five degree programmes: tourism, community development, small- and medium-size business administration, engineering and environmental technology, and international marketing.

More than half the incoming online foreign students are female (54%), and ages range from 17 to 71, with 42% between ages 27 and 25.

During this pilot phase, most of the students enrolled are studying online in the US, spread over 38 cities, with the other popular countries being Germany, Canada, Spain and Ireland.

Targeting expatriate Mexicans actually has its root in domestic needs. ESAD has said that part of the aim is to provide higher education to all Mexicans, at home and abroad.

Manuel Quintero, coordinator of ESAD's distance learning programme, said in a message to the school that Mexico has a clear goal: to train professionals and respond to society's needs, adding that education is a key factor for sustainable development.

"Our principle strategy is to apply information, technology and communication to education by making it accessible throughout the whole country."

Mexico's offering of degrees to expatriates living abroad is a growing trend in higher education in the region. Costa Rica, Argentina and Ecuador have similar programmes. Colombia also now offers online distance-learning courses in 154 programmes, including 21 for undergraduate and six for graduate degrees, as well as programmes geared towards Colombians living abroad.

In designing the model and its programmes, ESAD took into consideration the experiences of various countries and institutions, including the United Kingdom Open University, Canada's Athabasca University and Spain's National University of Distance Education in Spain, Tuirán said.