Financing of OnLine Education Initiatives International Finance Corporation Presentation To World Ed

1
Financing of On-Line Education Initiatives
International Finance CorporationPresentation
ToWorld Education MarketLisbon, May 2003Elia
RoumaniPrincipal Investment OfficerHealth
Education Department eroumani_at_ifc.org
http//www.ifc.org
2
IFC Project Screening
Business Screen where project meets commercial
objectives is financially sensible and
self-sustainable and demonstrates role as
leader or pioneer Developmental Screen where
project promotes efficiency and innovation can
provide a demonstration effect may contribute
to capacity building will advance the
quality of education and will complement
World Bank Group
activities Social Mobility Poverty Alleviation
Screen enhancing social mobility promoting
educational opportunities to lower income groups
the emerging middle classes and helping
to bridge the digital divide Environmental and
Social Screen compliance with
IFC environmental
and social standards?
3
Characteristics of IFC Investments

• Project size and scalability
• Positive regulatory environment for private
  investment
• Future commercial self-sustainability
• Targeting low to middle / or emerging middle
  classes
• Market factors saleable services that increase
  access choice service unmet demand enhance
  educational opportunities
• Scaleable developmental increasing
  institutional capacity/ quality/ relevance of
  programs/ enrollments

4
Risk Profiling Some Issues

• Regulatory issues potential for change
• Political uncertainty negative social climate
  (conflicts crime corruption) lack of
  transparent policies
• Economic / Investment climate
• Market under/ over supply competition
  negative demographics pricing affordability
  reputation
• Financial / administrational status and capacity
• Operational educational
  lack of quality and
  accreditation systems

5
Traditional Economic Model
Costs
Revenues
lt Many Years gt
Build the Campus
Renew the Campus
Source 2000 Dow, Lohnes Albertson, pllc
6
Technology-Medium Economic Model
Costs
Revenues
Cost
Start-up Courseware Development
New or Enhanced Courseware
lt Time gt
Source 2000 Dow, Lohnes Albertson, pllc IFC
(modified)
7
Teaching Learning Drive The Use Of Appropriate
Technologies
Pedagogic Feedback Review
8
Key Investment Issues
Investment cycles

courseware, 3 to 4
years
I.C.T.
infrastructure

reality of access cost

sensitivity
write-offs 2 to 3 years Demand


quick up-take of student numbers

market shortage of business graduates Quality
of program

academic delivery standards

employability and
estimated economic return
9
Technology / Technical Specifications

• Sound Technology Plan/Platform
• Secure Systems Back-up
• Technical Support Maintenance On-going
  development
• Open systems, scaleable and user friendly
  software

10
Courseware Development

• Design collaborative process students
  professorate
• Low capital in-house investment with extensive
  media background
• Sound quality review processes planned
• Collaboration of teaching professionals in
  planning assessment for better learning

11
Student Orientation

• Students compulsory meeting for 2 days prior
  to start
• Focus on building self-confidence
  
  program objectives
  
  use of available resources virtual
  library
  use of templates, applications tools
  
  accessing course syllabus
  
  use of labs, discussion rooms
  
  mentoring advisory support
  seeking
  technical support
  
  communication with professors and study teams
  
  self evaluation

12
Program Delivery Support

• Professional development adapting to new
  teaching methods for on-line delivery
• Teaching supported by continuous assessment
• Student mentoring strong commitment
• Technical support
• Regular student contact and feedback
  (asynchronous)
• Clear assessment strategies