Cyber students.

Earning a post-secondary degree online can be an attractive alternative to in-class learning for individuals upgrading skills.

Classrooms without walls sounds like some Orwellian concept. Distance learning has been around for years through correspondence courses but now a new generation of students are earning degrees and certificates via the Web.

Laurentian University is one of 10 Canadian universities serving as academic partners in the Canadian Virtual University (CVU), a growing alliance of universities and colleges launched in September last year.

Working with Industry Canada, the alliance works as a broker of programs made available through Laurentian, University College of Cape Breton, Tele-Universite du Quebec, Universite de Moncton, Athabasca University, BC Open University, Brandon University, Royal Roads University, University of Manitoba and University of Victoria.

Virtual universities have become a worldwide phenomenon, says Denis Mayer, the director of student affairs at Laurentian University, who also chairs CVU's national advisory committee.

There is a growing demand internationally and a realization that distance learning, ranging from the old text courses through interactive media, is a viable way to earn a degree, says Mayer, "that learning doesn't only happen sitting in a classroom."

Some programs involving laboratory work or human relations have to be carried out on campus, but much of the theory behind a course, such as reading and sifting through research, can be done at a distance on the Internet, by computer conferences, audio and video tapes or mail.

But for one school to convert an entire calendar of on-campus offerings directly to a Web environment is an expensive venture and a time consuming process to do alone. Through alliances, schools can collaborate to defray those costs, while opening up options with cyber students enrolled elsewhere.

Though there are many versions of virtual universities, CVU's concept is designed to strengthen all its partners by making each institution's students available to the other.

For example, sign up for a gerontology program at Laurentian, take the required core courses, but there may be some interesting electives offered by a partnering institution that can be added to your degree.

"It allows you, to specialize and blend the courses you want instead of being straight-jacketed at one school," says Mayer. "It's certainly the intent (of e-learning) to give a lot more freedom and flexibility for the learner.

"That's the beauty of it; you want to make it easier for the consumer and less complicated for the provider."

Logging on every day requires discipline and motivation, which many believe is inherent in the mature, midlevel career people they are targetting.

Mayer says there is a recognition that people have financial constraints, work-training requirements and less opportunity to put their career on hold for a few years to study or make time during the week to sit in a classroom.

"The days-of doing your degree from ages 19 to 23, and you're smart forever, are gone," says Mayer. Society and culture of education are evolving so quickly, he says, that lifelong learning is a must. "You have to keep learning because the job changes too fast."

Mayer says corporations looking to cut training costs and save on travel expenses should consider online learning, especially in partnering with other companies.

For institutions like Laurentian, distance education is expected to open up a whole new realm of e-learning possibilities, with Sudbury being named an administrative and training site for the new northern medical school. About 25 per cent of all medical training is expected to be delivered online. Mayer believes that figure is a conservative estimate and expects more courses delivered via the Web for health professionals on shift work. in clinic or in far remote areas.