Argos to compete with the OU

Ramrod · 06-04-2004, 16:40

Quote:

Argos chain to offer cut-price degrees
1 Apr 2004 by Malcolm Drury
The Argos chain is to seek accreditation as a university and offer cut-price degrees through its catalogue operations.

Brenda Shuttleworth, VP of strategic planning for the chain, told our reporter that the government's victory in getting its controversial university top-up fees legislation through the House of Commons opens the door for making cheap degrees available.

She said that because of lower overheads and its bulk purchasing power Argos felt that it would be able to offer degree courses for considerably less than the Ã‚Â£3,000 annual tuition fee that the present universities will be allowed to charge.

Although plans were still at an early stage of development she said that Argos's initial thinking was that they would contract academics in universities throughout the world to develop course modules, which would then be made available through the chain's catalogue outlets for home study. The academics would also be contracted to mark examination papers. By going worldwide for bids the lowest possible price would be obtained. She noted that the Open University has been offering the home study option for over 30 years, so the concept is not new.

The difference between the Argos proposal and what the Open University has to offer would be that students would be able to take the modules back for an exchange or refund if they were found to be unsuitable or faulty, Ms Shuttleworth explained.

"We offer a full money-back guarantee on everything we sell, and this would be no different," she said. "And that would include if a customer failed a course, something I doubt the other universities will be offering."

Professor Douglas Ramsbottom, Dean of the School of Early Etruscan History and Accountancy at the University of Bootle, said that he fully endorsed the Argos proposal. "It will give me the chance to make a few extra quid," he explained. "Or it will if they don't go entirely off-shore for their product. Anyway, it will at least take some of the teaching load off me, and my colleagues and I are always glad of that."

A spokesman for Charles Clarke, the Secretary of State for Education, said that he was unaware of the Argos proposal, but he felt that Mr Clarke would be supportive as it could go a long way to helping the government meet its target of 50% of school leavers going on to university whether they had the intelligence for it or not. He noted that it should be easy for Argos to get university accreditation, citing the precedent of the huge explosion in British institutions that were declared universities in recent decades. "It seems to me that these days all you have to do is ask," he said, "but don't quote me on that."

Link

Chris W · 06-04-2004, 16:44

IMO this will just devalue having a 'degree'. Does anyone else get spam from american institutions asking if they want to do home study degrees??

Marge · 06-04-2004, 16:49

*cough* check the date

06-04-2004, 16:51

Lol. I like this one. Would the students have to wait in line waiting for there number to be called before they could learn anything

**Stuart C** · 06-04-2004, 17:05

NTL Degrees are coming soon...

06-04-2004, 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debsy42

*cough* check the date

and the forum section it is in

Chris W · 06-04-2004, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by col d

and the forum section it is in

oops! i been done!

Ramrod · 06-04-2004, 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

oops! i been done!

Bifta · 06-04-2004, 17:12

I can't wait for the "Where did you get your Degree? Argos?" insult!

**Stuart C** · 06-04-2004, 18:23

Maybe Argos could do courses in standing round talking, and throwing customer's goods around..*

* Joke, I have worked in retail, I know it can be horrible.

**Maggy J** · 06-04-2004, 18:28

And Ramrod earns the I'm a bit late with this so I'm the April fool Award. :pp

06-04-2004, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by scastle

Maybe Argos could do courses in standing round talking, and throwing customer's goods around..*

* Joke, I have worked in retail, I know it can be horrible.

Or giving someone else your item which just happens to be the last one grrrrrrr

**Stuart C** · 06-04-2004, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by col d

Or giving someone else your item which just happens to be the last one grrrrrrr

Not to mention claiming that an item has sold out (it hadn't, they just couldn't be bothered looking), offering to replace it with a "superior" deal (which in my case didn't work, there was a specific reason I ordered the freeview box I did) then moaning when the customer demands to speak to the manager. Needless to say, I got the box I wanted.

Sorry, ranting in a humourous thread.