Cesar Alierta and Emilio Botin launch online education platform MiriadaX, the largest in the world in Spanish and Portuguese

RIO DE JANEIRO, July 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chairmen of Telefonica and Banco Santander, Cesar Alierta and Emilio Botin, respectively, met this morning in Rio de Janeiro to host the global launch of MiriadaX, the e-learning platform that both companies are jointly promoting and has already become the largest in the Spanish-speaking world. 

The event was held as a result of the III Universia International Meeting of university presidents, which gathers more than 1,200 universities from 31 countries in Rio de Janeiro.

MiriadaX is an initiative of Telefonica through Telefonica Learning Services (TLS), the leading e-learning company in Spain and one of the largest in the world, and Banco Santander through Universia, the largest network of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking universities.  MiriadaX is already the second-largest MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) in the world and the first in Spanish.

In his speech the Chairman of Telefonica, Cesar Alierta, emphasized the key significance of the new connectivity technologies to help propagate knowledge.  "In Latin America," Alierta stated, "we have a growing need for education and a generation that is clearly committed to technology.  This, along with high market penetration and the availability of connectivity services sustains solid bases for the success of MiriadaX."

From an economic point of view, Alierta highlighted the role of training and knowledge in the competitiveness of countries, "and in this regard, technology and digitalization are fundamental," he said.

In turn, Banco Santander's Chairman, Emilio Botin, reiterated that the bank provides MiriadaX its experience in university training and its commitment to higher learning in all Ibero-American countries.  "This is a historic opportunity for the Ibero-American higher education system," Botin stated.  He pointed out that "MiriadaX has all the tools necessary to become the world's leading open online course platform in Spanish and Portuguese."

"The printing press was a major revolution and, without doubt, knowledge that can be transferred through the Internet is possibly the next great innovation in education that we have the enormous privilege to be living," Botin emphasized.

The event also included participation by the CEO of Universia, Jaume Pages, the Vice-Chancellor of the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM), Mr. Jose Narro, the Vice-Chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Mr. Joaquim Clotet, as well as the Chairman of the Conference of Vice-Chancellors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zaragoza, Mr. Manuel J. Lopez Perez.

The MiriadaX platform

MiriadaX is based on collaborative learning and the free use of educational resources as well as innovative technologies.  The platform has been in active use for a year and a half and has more than 750,000 registered students, 100,000 of which have already passed their courses.

There are already 33 Ibero-American universities that offer training through MiriadaX.  In a year and a half it has published 153 courses and has a community of 990 professors.

MiriadaX's courses are open to all of the public, regardless of their level of education, without needing to belong to a specific university.  MiriadaX offers any person who is interested in expanding their knowledge the opportunity to register for its courses in an easy and open manner.

Telefonica Learning Services (TLS)

It is Telefonica group company that specializes in offering integrated training and education solutions and has 15 years' of expertise.  TLS, the most important Spanish e-learning company and one of the largest in the world, operates internationally and has headquarters in Spain, Peru, Chile, Colombia and Brazil.  It aims to offer and design teaching and learning formulas using the latest technological tools, reducing the digital divide, and thereby strengthening individuals' skills in order to favor their personal and professional development. 

TLS is an EdTech company that develops highly innovative projects in different markets; these range from end-to-end solutions for schools, to technological developments for universities, and company training solutions or public administration projects in various countries.

Universia

It is the largest university collaborative network and is sponsored by Banco Santander. Universia was created in 2000 with the goal of grouping Ibero-American universities around a single space on the Internet. Since 2005 it has been consolidated as a Network of universities and projects and promotes services with universities and for companies. Universia is the largest university Network in Ibero-America, comprised of 1,290 universities in 23 countries that represent 16.8 million students and professors.

What are MOOCs?

MOOC is an English acronym for "Massive Open Online Course." This term first appeared in 2008 when online courses started being taught and participants exceeded 2,000 registered individuals.  

These types of courses belong to a category of open education, where the courses are offered online and are carried out through various platforms with the intention of sharing knowledge en masse and reaching any type of audience.

The main characteristics that a MOOC must have are the following:

• A learning-oriented course structure in which the student's evolution can also be easily evaluated and verified.
• A high number of students per course, taking as a reference that the number must be much greater than the amount of students that a very popular in-person class might have.
• The courses must be created and taught online.
• Materials must be easily accessible online for free.
• Access must be open to any person interested in the course's subject matter.

For more information:

Miriada X
https://www.miriadax.net

CONTACT: Nancy Orlando, 1-617-757-5765, [email protected]

SOURCE Banco Santander S.A.