Walsall College

Walsall College is using online learning to increase its market share for international students, by offering them HE courses in their home countries. Initial development work was done with partners at Leningradskaya College in Russia. Hospitality courses were aimed specifically at Russian students who will be working at the Winter Olympics in Soshi in 2012. Students are registered as Walsall College students and supported over two study blocks per year, utilising a Moodle open source environment. More recently a cohort of students from RosNou (New University Russia) have been studying a Higher National course in Hospitality Management (Tourism). These students are also registered as Walsall College students and able to study the same course as UK-based counterparts by using the online environment. All the course materials are made available, assignments are electronically submitted and practical work is supervised and recorded by RosNou tutors.

The college is also increasing the market for workbased learners, recognising that smaller companies find it particularly difficult to find time for staff to be released to study. The challenge for the college is to offer cost-effective, flexible access to higher-level courses, at disparate locations and usually in a modular form. Online learning allows it to reach many more companies and individuals more cost-effectively. Working with a number of motor vehicle engineering and repair companies and a commercial development partner, a bespoke e-learning environment has been established that allows remote access to all the course materials at all levels. Through this environment, students and their employers are supported, assignments can be downloaded and submitted, and tutors can interact with students who are able to communicate with others in different locations.