Dr. Zvi Galil founded Georgia Tech’s Computing Online program which has opened up new opportunities for students, challenged the status quo, and sparked a broader conversation about the future of online education.
CalcalistTech interview with Dr. Zvi Galil is about his way from a distinguished scientist to establishing an online master’s program in computer science. “I take pride in my scientific contributions,” says Dr. Galil, “however, through my online degree, I have made a profound impact on the lives of thousands of individuals. This is an entirely different level of significance.”
What makes the program special is affordability, he explains. “At Georgia Tech, a computer science degree […] costs $40,000 for non-residents and $25,000 for residents,” while MOOC (Mass Open Online Courses) programs fees are much lower. From over 70 master’s programs in 30 universities, “we remain the most affordable option, significantly below $10,000.” He elaborates on many more issues concerning online courses, like Zoom recordings, plagiarism, tests, and supervision.
“Universities are among the most conservative institutions, second only to the Catholic Church. Faculty members are resistant to change,” he says, and hopes for an expansion of online programs also to prestigious universities like Harvard and Stanford, or “perhaps, in the end, they will be left behind.”
The full interview is also available in Hebrew.
Video: Umakishore Ramachandran and Zvi Galil discuss “Creating a Revolutionary Academic Program” (Video, 6 min.)