Students from around the world will be able to study online for a degree that examines the nature and future of humankind under a new partnership between The University of Western Australia and Open Universities Australia.

The Centre for Integrated Human Studies at UWA has entered into a partnership with OUA to enable students, wherever they live, to study IHS courses.

UWA's Professor Neville Bruce, director of the Centre, said the ability to provide programs through OUA was a great opportunity for the University to engage further with the online educational community.

"I welcome the chance to bring our programs to students nationally and internationally," Professor Bruce said.  "IHS brings together the sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities to focus on the nature and future of humankind.

"The 21st century promises to be one of massive transition in technology, social structures, human wellbeing, values, and our world ecosystem.  How we meet these challenges within our occupations, personal and public lives will be crucial, not just to ourselves but to world futures."

OUA is Australia's largest online higher education services provider with 14 universities in the partnership, increasing access to high-quality career-oriented educational postgraduate programs and more flexibility for students.

CEO of Open Universities Australia, Stuart Hamilton said: "We are proud to welcome UWA to the OUA provider family.  As we seek to broaden our online influence and educational reach, OUA will provide students around Australia with a wider range of study options to fit various lifestyles and overcome the traditional barriers of university education.

Under-represented groups, including working adults and students in regional areas will be the big winners from these new partnerships.  As a result, we'll be helping to meet both State and Federal Government's goals of increasing access to quality education."

（www.eduwo.com, Anna）