<p>EdX currently offers HarvardX, <em>MITx</em> and BerkeleyX classes online for free. Beginning in Summer 2013, edX will also offer UTx (University of Texas) classes online for free. The University of Texas System includes nine universities and six health institutions. The edX institutions aim to extend their collective reach to build a global community of online students. Along with offering online courses, the three universities undertake research on how students learn and how technology can transform learning – both on-campus and online throughout the world.</p>
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<h3>What are "X Universities"?</h3>
<p>Harvard, MIT and UC Berkeley, as the first universities whose courses are delivered on the edX website, are "X Universities." The three institutions will work collaboratively to establish the "X University" Consortium, whose membership will expand to include additional "X Universities" as soon as possible. Each member of the consortium will offer courses on the edX platform as an "X University." The gathering of many universities’ educational content together on one site will enable learners worldwide to access the course content of any participating university from a single website, and to use a set of online educational tools shared by all participating universities. </p>
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<h3>Why is UC Berkeley joining edX?</h3>
<p>Like Harvard and MIT, UC Berkeley seeks to transform education in quality, efficiency and scale through technology and research, for the benefit of campus-based students and the global community of online learners. </p>
<p>UC Berkeley also shares the edX commitment to the not-for-profit and open-platform model as a way to enhance human fulfillment worldwide. </p>
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<h3>What will UC Berkeley's direct participation entail?</h3>
<p>UC Berkeley will begin by offering two courses on edX in Fall 2012, and will collaborate on the development of the technology platform. We will explore, experiment and innovate together.</p>
<p>UC Berkeley will also serve as the inaugural chair of the "X University" Consortium for an initial 5 year period. As Chair, UC Berkeley will participate on the edX Board on behalf of the X Universities.</p>
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<h3>Why is The University of Texas System joining edX?</h3>
<p>Joining edX not only allows UT faculty to showcase their work on a global stage, but also provides UT students the opportunity to take classes from their choice of UT institutions, as well as MIT, Harvard, UC Berkeley and future “X” Universities.</p>
<p>The UT System closely examined all the alternatives and determined that edX offered the best fit in terms of alignment of mission, platform and revenue model. The strength and reputation of the partner institutions – MIT, Harvard and UC Berkeley – was also a huge consideration. EdX is committed to both blended and online learning and to a non-profit, open source model. It is also governed by a board of academics with a commitment to excellence in learning.</p>
