Latest news from Loughborough University

18 Sep 2013

Loughborough previews courses it will offer as part of FutureLearn

Loughborough University has revealed a taster of the courses it will offer as part of FutureLearn, the first UK-led provider of massive open online courses (MOOCs), which launches today (18 September).

Loughborough will provide courses in mathematics, enterprise and innovation – areas in which the University already has a well-established reputation for excellence.

The enterprise and innovation course, which will enable students to learn how an innovative idea becomes a reality, will be launched fully in early 2014. It will last for six weeks and will be a stepping stone for further study at Loughborough University.

The delivery of the course is being led by Loughborough’s renowned School of Business and Economics, the only business school to be offering courses through FutureLearn.

Phil Wilkinson-Blake, Director of IT and E-Learning for the School, says it will provide students with an insight into a very exciting subject area.

“Innovation is a hot topic around the world right now. Introducing something new or innovating is easy in theory, but can be hard in practice. We’re surrounded by new ideas, but selecting the best and implementing them can be challenging.

“The Loughborough course will allow learners to find out more about entrepreneurs and innovators, how we can spot opportunities and transform that bright idea into something tangible.”

Loughborough University will also offer a mini-MOOC in mathematics. Lasting three weeks, it will be aimed at those who aspire to study science or engineering foundation courses.

“The course is designed for those who have gained some understanding of mathematics or engineering through their work or maybe a vocational qualification, but haven’t studied those subjects formally since school,” explains Tony Croft, Professor of Mathematics Education at Loughborough. “The MOOC will provide those students with a bedrock of knowledge that will help to enhance their skills and provide them with the confidence to take their studies further.”

Loughborough’s mathematics mini-MOOC is expected to launch fully in the spring of next year.

−ENDS−

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 13/172

  1. About FutureLearn
    FutureLearn.com, set up in December 2012, is the first UK-led multi-institutional provider of free, open, online higher education courses. It will offer courses for people to access and enjoy wherever they are in the world on multiple devices.  Courses will be created by the Universities of Bath, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Leicester, Loughborough, Kings College London, Lancaster, Leeds, Monash, Nottingham, The Open University, Queen’s Belfast, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Strathclyde, Trinity College Dublin and Warwick.  In addition, the British Council, British Library and the British Museum have all agreed to partner with FutureLearn to share content and their expertise and collaborate in the development of courses through FutureLearn.com. So far learners from over 165 countries have registered their interest in taking a course on FutureLearn.
  2. About Loughborough University
    Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

    It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year 2008-09 title, and is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in national newspaper league tables. In the 2011 National Student Survey, Loughborough was voted one of the top universities in the UK, and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

    It is a member of the 1994 Group of 11 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.

Contact for all media enquiries

T: 0203 047 2588
E: media.enquiries@futurelearn.com