The announcement from the FutureLearn project sees the first major challenge from the UK, headed by the Open University, which has pioneered distance learning.

BBC: UK universities in online launch to challenge US

The project has received funding from Queen's University, the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council - the UK's strategic science investment agency - and the Open University.

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In the UK, the Futurelearn consortium of 18 institutions, headed by the Open University, has announced plans to offer online courses from later this year.

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There have also been developments in the UK's fledgling online university platform, Futurelearn, announced by the Open University last year.

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Martin Bean, the Open University's vice-chancellor, said that the arrival of online courses meant that UK universities could either "stick their heads in the sand" or rise to the international challenge.

BBC: UK universities in online launch to challenge US

The Hospital remained open until 2002. 11 years later its records, based at Stirling University, were inscribed on the UK Memory of the World Register.

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However, the Open University said if the focus is on the OU in Scotland, rather than the OU as a UK-wide institution, it is the top Scottish performer with a 94% approval rating.

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