During the early phases of developing the MSIM program, Regis hired Hezel Associates, a consulting firm for the education sector based in Syracuse, NY, to conduct a market study in order to gain an understanding of the potential market for the MSIM program, as well for a joint online Master of Science in Software and Information Systems program that Regis has developed with the National University of Ireland, Galway.

The Hezel Associates study was a European Union market analysis that revealed a number of important factors that Regis has taken under consideration:

• The culture of education in the EU is perceived to have changed when the current and future member states signed the Bologna Declaration in 1999, which advocates a two-tier higher education system similar to the U.S. The two-tier system encourages flexibility and increases the likelihood of lifelong learning opportunities for prospective students living in EU countries.
   
• In EU countries the distance education industry falls under the general laws of commerce and is not hindered by specific regulations.
   
• There is a more promising market for online education in England and the Northern EU countries, where there is high Internet usage and a significant population of people who speak English. The total market for online education in Scandinavia, for instance, is expected to grow to $890 million in 2005.
   
• France, Spain and Italy are difficult market entry points for English-speaking online education providers because these countries do not have as many English-speaking citizens and they have a well-established education industry already in place.
   
• People with graduate-level business degrees are increasingly in demand in the global marketplace, especially in the technology sector. European MBA programs are typically more internationally focused than U.S. MBA programs.
   
• Europe has a skills gap in the information and communication technologies fields.
   
• The marketplace for online education is competitive, but the EU market is not nearly as crowded as the U.S. market.
   
• The desire of European students to obtain an American degree has led to a number of European institutions to partner with U.S. institutions. This has proven to be beneficial to both partnering institutions and to the students. However, there are a number of other European institutions that are promoting an "American" education but do not have an affiliation with U.S. institutions.
   
• Understanding cultural differences between EU countries and the U.S. is critical. In Norway, for instance, providing online support in the mother tongue is recommended. In Germany, an on-ground, face-to-face presence for student support is highly recommended.
   
• Government policy makers in Europe support online education, but the majority of European institutions have lagged in transitioning to fully online offerings, opting for a blended approach.

Hezel Associates to Release Latest Research on Global Demand for U.S. Higher Education

Hezel Associates is expected to release its latest research findings on the global demand for U.S. higher education in December of this year. Driving their research efforts is the question, "What markets offer the greatest opportunity for U.S. postsecondary institutions?" To be presented at the upcoming Education Industry Finance and Investment Summit (December 6-8, 2004, Washington, DC), the Hezel Associates study builds on the EU study conducted on behalf of Regis University. The region- by-region study will focus on the market conditions driving the demand for US postsecondary programs in the EU, Asia, Africa and South America. For more information about this study, contact Hezel Associates at hezel@hezel.com .

www.hezel.com