OPM Research Questions – While the need for online degree

While the need for online degree programs with and without degrees has peaked, we, as an industry, have very little research and independent data to help us assess whether it makes sense to hire an e-learning facilitator to make a profit. Without basic research, we lack the vocabulary and fundamental knowledge to generate research questions based on proven hypotheses. Once we are able to conduct and disseminate research at levels and trends, we can begin to address some of the most complex and effective research issues. The research I want to see – and in which I want to participate – is not about whether School X should collaborate with PMO Y on the new online program. The big questions we must answer concern the impact of PMO Y partnership on schools and students. It seems that we are willing to enter into agreements with online program management companies, but not criticize their impact. Now that higher education is trying to orient itself towards WMD-19, these WMD research questions are becoming more and more relevant. But just because these research questions are hard to answer does not mean that we should not try. The data should come from both schools that do not use GREB and schools that do. Everyone who works in OPM, from critics to sponsors, from schools to companies, works with their data.