8 Dec 2025
Blended Learning International and the Social Cyber & Tech Academy continue to align strongly with emerging global evidence on the future of online education.
A new working paper released on 1 December 2025 by the top level US National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) — “The Effects of Widespread Online Education on Market Structure and Enrolment” (Barahona, Dobbin, Otero; NBER Working Paper 34522) — provides valuable insights into how online learning is reshaping higher education participation and outcomes.
The study finds that the expansion of online programs has significantly increased access for mature-age learners, enabling them to enter or return to education in ways not possible through traditional delivery. At the same time, the researchers observe that younger learners often achieve better long-term outcomes when online study forms part of a pathway into structured, in-person or blended education, rather than a standalone endpoint.
These findings reinforce the direction of our work at BLI and the Social Cyber & Tech Academy. Our course design and delivery model deliberately supports:
Mature-age professionals seeking flexible, high-value insight and qualifications that align with career advancement; and
Younger learners who use our qualifications as a pathway into in-person university programs, where returns on education remain strong.
This NBER research further highlights the importance of balancing access with quality, and ensuring that online study is embedded within well-structured professional and academic pathways — precisely the model underpinning our Diploma, Graduate Diploma, and Cyber Leadership programs.
We will continue to monitor global research developments in this area and ensure that the Academy’s curriculum and student pathways remain aligned with best practice and evolving evidence.