Sars brings online learning deal

The Sars outbreak has closed schools and colleges

A Scottish university is providing online learning to 30,000 students in Hong Kong while schools and colleges there are closed due to the Sars outbreak.

The service is being provided by the Interactive University (IU) which is based at Edinburgh's Heriot Watt University.

The contract, between the authorities in Hong Kong and Heriot Watt, enables senior pupils to continue their studies from home.

The agreement lasts until August, when the schools in Hong Kong are due to re-open.

Pupils will be given access to the Scholar Programme, which covers science subjects for Scottish Highers.

Highers are still taken by students in the former colony because many of them go on to study at British universities.

Progress monitored

The university also publishes online material for degree and post-graduate courses.

While using the online learning programme, pupils and teachers will also be able to keep in touch through chatrooms.

It allows teachers to monitor the progress of their students, helping them to prepare for the exams.

The IU is an independent organisation set up with contributions from Scottish Enterprise and Heriot Watt University

By taking on the extra 30,000 pupils, the IU is now providing course materials to almost 80,000 students in 15 countries around the globe, making it the largest electronic learning service in the world.