pilipiliĀž»­

 

New DalOpen initiative offers flexible learning options for people who aren't in a program

- June 14, 2022

DalOpen is a new way of learning at pilipiliĀž»­, designed to be more accessible, flexible, and convenient. (Adobe Stock image)
DalOpen is a new way of learning at pilipiliĀž»­, designed to be more accessible, flexible, and convenient. (Adobe Stock image)

A new initiative launching at Dal this month offers anyone an opportunity to take select courses at the university fully online without applying to a program.

Dalā€™s Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development led the development of DalOpen, which seeks to broaden access to the university so more people can become part of the Dal community on a schedule that fits their life.

Itā€™s a new way of learning at the university designed to be more accessible, flexible, and convenient, says Dianne Tyers, dean of the Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development.

ā€œEveryone should have an opportunity to learn at Dal if they want to take a course for fun or perhaps transfer a course to a degree,ā€ she says. ā€œThe choice is in the hands of our learners, and weā€™re working to make sure DalOpen finds its way into communities where university learning may seem out of reach.ā€

The courses currently featured as part of this initiative include ā€œExploring Sustainability,ā€ offered by the College of Sustainability, and ā€œInnovation: An Introduction to Design Thinking,ā€ an introductory course offered by the Faculty of Management.

Testing the waters

As more courses are added, people will be able to choose from a wide range of intriguing topics either for their own personal interests or as an easy way to try out university studies.

Ģżā€œWe work with other Faculties at the university to take courses that are already offered online and add new openings for DalOpen students to enroll,ā€ says Dr. Tyers (shown left). ā€œThis means that anyone can register for university-level courses as a DalOpen student and earn an academic credit without ever applying to a degree program.ā€

DalOpen students will have access to a variety of services, including library access, research resources and other university supports.

ā€œDalOpen is designed to break down barriers and give anyone the flexibility and ease to learn in new ways,ā€ says Kim Brooks, dean of the Faculty of Management. ā€œWe have a responsibility, as a civic university, to forge even stronger connections with the communities we serve and DalOpen is one way we can extend our reach and offer university learning to even more people.ā€

For more information on DalOpen courses and the registration process, click here.

Related reading: Introducing the Faculty of Open Learning & Career Development