The University of Notre Dame on Wednesday (June 11) announced that it has joined the edX Consortium as a charter member. A not-for-profit partnership of leading global universities, edX is committed to innovations in online and blended learning, improving access to education, and researching effective learning for use on and beyond college campuses.

Currently, edX members offer more than 200 open online courses to learners worldwide in a range of academic areas, including engineering, the humanities, natural sciences, computer science and public health. Notre Dame will use edX courses — along with educational media, innovative tools and strategies and the data they yield — in the service of effective teaching and learning.

“Notre Dame and edX have shared philosophical interests,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “We are delighted to partner with edX to advance the cause of open learning and improve access to education on a global scale. Notre Dame looks forward to joining the other extraordinary colleges and universities in the edX Consortium to improve human flourishing through education.”

“Open online education done well extends the values and aspirations of a residential university such as Notre Dame,” said Elliott Visconsi, the University’s chief academic digital officer. “By joining the edX Consortium, we reaffirm our broader commitment to provide an unparalleled education for our students, assert our intention to create new knowledge for the public good and pledge to use technology to enhance rather than erode the bond between teacher and learner.”

Notre Dame’s Office of Digital Learning will announce its first four edX courses, to be launched in spring 2015, at a later date.

Founded in April 2012 by Harvard and MIT, edX was created for students and institutions that seek to transform themselves through cutting-edge technologies, innovative pedagogy and rigorous courses. It presents the best of education online, offering opportunity to anyone who wants to achieve, thrive and grow.

Among the other edX charter members are institutions including UC Berkeley, Tsinghua University, Cornell University, Rice University, Peking University, IIT Bombay, Catholic University of Louvain, Columbia University and the University of Chicago.

Contact: Elliott Visconsi, chief academic digital officer, eviscons@nd.edu or @EVisconsi