Since the first online degree course was launched in 1989, the sector has continued to develop, with estimates suggesting the global e-learning market will grow at 9 per cent per annum and be worth £285 billion by 2026. Attracted by the potential financial returns, opportunities to widen access to higher education, the ability to repurpose digital materials and the limited investment required for campus facilities, an increasing number of UK universities have sought to develop their online portfolios.
