First Kaplan Open Learning Students Graduate With University of Essex Degrees

Students on Same Online Course for Several Years Finally Meet up at Graduation

LONDON, August 18, 2010 - The first students to graduate from Kaplan Open Learning
(www.kaplanopenlearning.org.uk/), the online higher education college
of the University of Essex, have received Foundation and Bachelor's degrees
at a recent University graduation ceremony. Kaplan Open Learning was launched
in 2007 by global education and training company Kaplan and the University of
Essex and offers degree courses entirely online.

Of the 24 students in the first graduating class, approximately 1/3 are
employees in the public sector working for councils, schools, an ambulance
service and the Home Office. Three quarters of the graduates are women.

The online degree format offers far greater flexibility than traditional
full-time and part-time degrees which require attendance on a campus, so
students can pursue an online degree without disrupting their work or family
life. This creates an excellent opportunity for many of these working adults
to gain higher education qualifications who otherwise would not be able to do
so.

Scheduled online classes connect staff and students through both live
audio and chat rooms to encourage active discussion and interactive learning
in real time. Though building relationships online for three years, it wasn't
until the graduation ceremony that the students met each other and their
advisers and tutors in person.

Victoria Blahyj-Murfitt, Foundation degree, Business Studies, and winner
of the Kaplan Inspiration Prize, said: "Juggling work, two small boys and
voluntary commitments at times made the studying seem impossible…I knew
that I had to finish the course both for myself and to prove to my children
that if you really want something then no matter what barriers you are faced
with you can achieve it. Since starting the degree, I have gained promotion
in my working life and have exceeded the expectations of my current
employer…The best thing of all is that my children have been shouting my
achievement from the rooftops and are openly so proud of me."

The courses offer multiple start dates throughout the year with a
continuous 52-week academic calendar, and allow students to study wherever
they have access to the internet. Students can contact their own dedicated
academic adviser and tutors outside regular class hours.

Courses on offer include Business Studies, Financial Services and
Criminal Justice. The Foundation degree is awarded by the University of Essex
and a third year course can be taken that leads to the award of a BA (Hons)
by the University.

For more information about online degree courses from Kaplan Open
Learning, please visit kaplanopenlearning.org.uk/.

About Kaplan, Inc.

Kaplan, Inc. is a leading international provider of educational and
career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan is a
subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO). For more information,
please visit www.kaplan.com.

About the University of Essex

The University of Essex is one of the UK's leading academic institutions,
consistently ranking among the top 12 universities in the country for the
quality of its research and teaching. Founded in 1964, it has more than 9,000
students drawn from around 130 countries. For more information, please visit
www.essex.ac.uk.

    For more information and hi-res images, please contact:

    Elizabeth Hess, Kaplan Open Learning
    +44(0)20-7645-8968
    Elizabeth.hess@kaplan.com

    University of Essex Communications Office
    +44(0)1206-872400
    comms@essex.ac.uk

    Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom

For more information and hi-res images, please contact: Elizabeth Hess, Kaplan Open Learning, +44(0)20-7645-8968, Elizabeth.hess at kaplan.com; University of Essex Communications Office, +44(0)1206-872400, comms at essex.ac.uk; Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom