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The first free, open, online platform for courses from multiple UK universities and other leading organisations has announced a further five partners today, including the British Museum, Loughborough University, University of Sheffield, University of Glasgow and University of Strathclyde.
The new partners are joining FutureLearn, which was launched in December 2012 and includes several universities as well as the British Library and the British Council.  Each is committed to providing engaging and entertaining courses through the online site.

We already learned that in the UK language learning is in decline and that only 9% of 15-year-olds in the UK are competent in the first foreign language they learn in school after seven years, whereas other European students at the same age show much higher competency, like 82% in Sweden.

The first free, open, online platform for courses from multiple UK universities has announced a partnership with the British Council, the international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

Six of Futurelearn’s partners are accompanying the Prime Minister, David Cameron on a major business and skills mission to India. The Open University’s Vice-Chancellor, Martin Bean, has been joined on the visit by VCs from the universities of Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Warwick and the CEO of the British Library.
Futurelearn was set up by The Open University (OU) in December 2012.
New partners

On a trade visit to India the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has welcomed news that more top partners are joining Futurelearn, the UK’s first provider of free, open online courses from multiple top-ranking institutions.

Spreading their language and culture is part of the political and economic strategy for many countries that play a role in globalization. Germany has its Goethe Institut, France the Alliance Francaise, Great Britain the British Council and so on.

Have you ever had a bad traveling experience because you didn’t put in the effort to learn a few words from the country that you’re traveling to? Or perhaps, thinking that wherever you go, other people will understand your language and there’s no need to learn speaking local languages.

Today, Martin Bean, The Open University Vice-Chancellor and Simon Nelson, Launch CEO of Futurelearn, shared their lessons for innovators at a packed event at Nesta, an independent charity which helps people and organisations bring great ideas to life.