WHILE universities have now re-opened, allowing students back onto campus full-time, many leading universities have refused to end their online learning offering.
With many establishments now offering a ‘blended approach’ of online and in-person lectures, the nation has split over the decision to continue with degree-level education online.
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According to statistics, the global e-learning industry is expected to surpass $243 billion this year, with around 49% of students predicted to have taken an online course in the last 12 months.
But not only that, data suggests that students absorb 25-60 percent more material when learning online than from traditional methods.
And it seems that Scots are in agreement, with a reported 20% surge in demand for online courses following the pandemic.
With this in mind, gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble analysed the latest available data to reveal which cities and towns across Scotland provide the best set up for distance learners.
To do this, they compared the latest data available for nine deciding categories. These included percentage of premises with access to ultra-fast broadband, average library reviews, cafes with free Wi-Fi, number of nature and parks per capita, rental price, utility price, internet price, median weekly earnings and median overtime hours worked.
At the top of the table, Dundee not only ranked number one for Scottish cities but eighth nationwide as the most favourable city for distance learners, scoring 6.09 out of a possible 10.
Dundee scored highly in four of the nine categories, including percentage of premises with access to overtime workers (8.68), ultra-fast broadband (8.07), utility affordability (7.77) and internet affordability (6.76).
However, the coastal city scored its highest for rent affordability (9.06), making it a desirable destination to relocate to, away from the hustle and bustle of big cities. Monthly rent prices in Dundee will set residents back £826–cheaper than the Scottish average of £906.
With low weekly earnings compared to other areas of Scotland, this may not allow prospective students to afford proper Wi-Fi, computers, or assistance such as childcare or tutoring – all of which make remote learning easier for students.
Ranking ahead of both Edinburgh and Glasgow, Aberdeen is deemed the second best city in Scotland for distant learners, scoring six out of 10. It also scored highly for rent prices (9.66), utility affordability (9.42) and overtime workers (8.68).
The north east port city has the cheapest rent prices compared to other Scottish cities – only costing residents just under £640 a month. Although, despite its favourable attributes, areas for improvement could be for ultra-fast broadband (1.0), an issue which could be exacerbated further by lack of cafes with free Wi-Fi (1.24).
James Brown, Director at Protect your bubble, commented:
“With the possibility of online learning becoming a reality for many, it’s important prospective students have the best start to their education. So, looking into factors such as internet capabilities, cost of living and work/life balance gives an idea to see which cities are best equipped for distant learners.
“Alongside these factors, it’s important students ensure the equipment they use for their work is covered in the event of damage, theft, or mechanical breakdown. Further education can be stressful enough without the possibility of losing your devices and work unexpectedly.”
