“Why don’t we, instead of trying to sell our knowledge over the internet, just give it away.”
Over the next 10 years, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will move all of its existing coursework on to the internet. For free. Thousands of pages of information as well as hours of streaming video lectures, seminars and experiments. All available to anyone anywhere around the world at no cost.
While other colleges and universities around the world are struggling to find ways to make money by offering their courses and diplomas online, MIT has launched OpenCourseWare, the initiative that they hope will spark a global revolution in education.
“OpenCourseWare looks counter-intuitive in a market-driven world. It goes against the grain of current material values. But it really is consistent with what I believe is the best about MIT. It is innovative. It expresses our belief in the way education can be advanced — by constantly widening access to information and by inspiring others to participate.” -Charles M. Vest, President, MIT