One of the country’s wealthiest nonprofits dedicated to online education has been awarding grants for over a year, but the process has been slow and somewhat under-the-radar. “There has been little buzz about them in digital learning circles,” notes Russ Poulin, Executive Director of WCET, a nonprofit focused on digital learning in higher education. Late last month, an article in the online course review site Class Central raised concerns about the nonprofit’s progress, with Dhawal Shah calling their promises “hollow.”
Axim Collaborative was established after Harvard University and MIT sold their edX online platform to 2U forprofit in 2021. Since then, Axim has been working to make a difference in online education, though progress has been gradual. Axim’s CEO, Stephanie Khurana, commented on the criticism, pointing out that the group has launched 18 partnerships over the past year, with many grants awarded being after their most recent tax return.
One of Axim’s major initiatives is their collaboration with HBCUv, a group of historically Black colleges, to create a shared technology platform for online courses. This project not only involves financial support but also aims to enhance student success metrics within the platform, offering valuable resources and support to underserved learners in higher education.
Listening Tour
Khurana’s approach involves listening and learning from the online learning community to address key challenges faced by students. Grant amounts vary, ranging from $500,000 to $3 million, with a focus on artificial intelligence projects that benefit underserved learners. An example is a collaboration to improve student advising using AI tools.
Axim also manages the Open edX platform, an open-source system hosting online courses and used by numerous institutions worldwide. This model, similar to the Linux operating system, relies on community support and contributions.
Despite mixed reviews, Khurana remains committed to finding innovative solutions for higher education challenges. As an organization still in its early stages, Axim’s CEO emphasizes the importance of starting small and building on successes. Ultimately, the goal is to create lasting impacts and meaningful change in online education.
