As the world grappled with the reality of the pandemic, most of the academic activities across the world moved to online platforms. Educational institutions utilized technological tools to provide classes and even hold exams. And with that, the concept of distance learning resurged in the limelight. Many renowned universities offered distance learning even before the pandemic. With time, it is becoming a popular and convenient way of attaining a higher degree. This article looks at some of the best international universities providing distance learning opportunities.  What is Distance Learning?  The concept of distance learning is nothing new. The earliest example of distance learning dates back to the 1840s. Back then, Sir Issac Pitman taught shorthand to his students via postal mail. However, today’s concept of distance learning largely differs from that of the 1800s.  Distance learning today essentially mimics an actual classroom with teachers and students. Universities across the globe partner with platforms like Coursera, and edX to provide certification courses to aspiring students. Some universities offer these courses on their own platform. Recently, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are also made available through distance learning opportunities.  Read more: Best Countries for Bachelor's Degree in 2023 8 Best Universities in the World with Distance Learning Opportunities  This list includes universities offering certificate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It's important to note that distance learning bachelor’s programs are less common than master’s or certificate courses.  University College London  University College London or UCL was founded in 1826. It was established after the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. In addition to their London campus, the university has campuses in Qatar and Australia.  UCL has 11 academic wings ranging from arts and humanities to medical sciences. It ranks 12th in US News’ list of Best Global Universities. The university offers 403 undergraduate degrees. Additionally, it offers 621 master’s degrees, and 271 online courses/degrees. The online courses are a mix of certificate as well as postgraduate degrees in all of their available academic wings.  Read more: Cheapest countries for Bangladeshi students for higher studies

Due to the easy availability of technology, anyone can get a degree from various universities in America and Europe at home. You can get certificates from Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Oxford, and other famous universities online. Apart from this, the opportunity to participate in free courses is available online at almost all reputed universities. As a result, without going to Europe or America, online is now becoming an alternative way for young people to get a foreign degree. More than 2 million students from 165 countries worldwide are taking various courses online for free on more than 100 subjects. How can distance learning help career advancement? When a student studies a subject through conventional means, there is less opportunity to study other subjects. However, enthusiastic learners can overcome this limitation through distance learning online. Students or professionals can be involved in e-learning while they are full-time jobholders. Read SoP for Higher Studies: How to write an unfailing Statement of Purpose? The biggest advantage is that it will be possible to obtain an international degree in your home country without any visa complications and additional fees. Further, there is no obstacle of education break and age. There is no danger of wasting time getting the desired degree as there is no session delay like the conventional procedure. The popularity or acceptance of foreign online courses in Bangladesh is continuously emerging. Not to mention, these certificates will add extra value to the resume. Gaining knowledge is more important than getting a certificate in an online course. The knowledge earned from online courses can help an individual apply those in the workplace, which ultimately helps career advancement. Further, these certificates will make your commitments a little stronger to the employer. These courses may be useful for those who want to switch careers in the future. Read Can E-Learning Substitute Classroom Learning? Where to get online international degrees? There are many online education platforms such as Coursera, EDX that can provide international-level education. Further, many top-level universities also provide distance learning opportunities. Several leading universities and institutes in the United States and the United Kingdom are popular for distance learning. In addition, various universities in Europe, Australia, and even a few universities in our neighboring country India have distance learning programs. Some of the most popular educational institutions in the United States offering distance learning programs are Boston University, University of Florida, Arizona State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, Washington State, etc. Read IELTS vs TOEFL: Which is better for study abroad? Popular universities in the UK include the University of London (Institute of Education), the University of Manchester, the University of Liverpool, the University of Northampton, the University of Edinburgh Napier, and the Ashridge Business School. Apart from this, the distance education system has been introduced in various reputed universities in different countries around the world.

The UN educational and cultural agency, UNESCO, has encouraged people everywhere to celebrate the world’s diversity by supporting multilingualism at school and in everyday life: the theme for International Mother Language Day, observed on Sunday.

 The activism of Jennifer Dale began when she watched her third grade daughter struggle with distance learning, kicking and screaming through her online classes.

Nearly 1.6 billion learners across the world have been affected by the largest disruption of education systems in history caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

President of UNICEF Executive Board and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Ambassador Rabab Fatima has said access to online and distance learning universally should be a top priority now.

The government’s decision to run distance-learning programmes after it shut down educational institutions amid coronavirus outbreak is gradually bringing out the social disparity.

Khulna district administration on Monday introduced online education on Facebook and YouTube platforms for school students as they have been staying at home for over one month and will have to continue to stay out of their schools until May 30.

The restrictions on movement during general holidays, imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus, are being eased gradually but educational institutions are yet to be opened.

The Moheshkhali Island, a popular destination for tourists, has now been transformed into a digitalised locality with modern facilities. In some cases, it is more advanced than some other regions of the country.