My most up-to-date research indicates that there are now nearly 600 online degree programmes under the umbrella of an OPM or other online education company partnership.

We are still in a phase of increasing market entries from UK universities and dynamism in the space. Ultimately, what has been and continues to be seen points to substantial transformation of the online distance education landscape in the coming years, bringing both opportunities and challenges for UK universities and their partners.

It has been fascinating to observe 2U’s growing footprint in UK higher education against the backdrop of very transparent and widely publicised financial turmoil.

The landscape of online education companies and OPMs continues to be turbulent and a topic of much discussion. There is, however, more to this sector than the financial headlines that often dominate.

It’s clear that OPMs face a more difficult and competitive operating environment which makes it harder for them to deliver for universities…But the big question is whether the current operating environment and the headwinds being experienced will ultimately compel some of these companies to change how they operate.

Universities considering OPM partnerships now more than ever need to have a good understanding of the different players in the market, keep abreast of the shifting sands in this landscape and really do their due diligence.

These types of partnerships are only set to grow in the coming years and with that we will see greater scrutiny and debate. This may lead to different partnership models emerging beyond the traditional 10-year, 50%+ revenue share. Fee-for-service models and incubator approaches that intentionally build university capabilities may become more common.