Academic Prospectus For Cohort-Based & Facilitated Online Education

Our approach to student success.

At GFP, we believe that online education should be more than just digital course delivery—it should be an immersive, interactive, and supportive experience that ensures students not only complete their studies but thrive academically and personally. Our cohort-based, facilitated online education model sets us apart from conventional online programs by fostering collaboration, providing structured guidance, and ensuring consistent academic support. Unlike traditional self-paced online learning, where students often struggle with isolation and lack of engagement, our approach integrates a dedicated facilitator who works closely with student cohorts, ensuring they stay on track, receive timely feedback, and actively participate in structured peer learning activities.

One of the most critical challenges in online education is maintaining engagement and delivering the necessary academic and institutional support that students need to succeed. Research has consistently shown that students in fully online programs often experience lower completion rates due to a lack of real-time interaction and structured academic guidance. Our facilitated model directly addresses these issues by ensuring students are supported every step of the way. By leveraging group discussions, peer reviews, and a structured curriculum supported by facilitators, we replicate the benefits of in-person education in an online setting. This dynamic approach creates a vibrant learning community where students gain not just knowledge, but also essential skills in collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.

GFP’s Academic Prospectus is built around this transformative learning model, making it an ideal pathway for students seeking a high-quality online education with meaningful support. Our cohort-based structure ensures students are not left to navigate their studies alone but instead move forward with a group of peers, guided by a dedicated facilitator who provides academic oversight, encouragement, and mentorship. This combination of structured learning, personalised support, and collaborative engagement enhances student retention, improves academic outcomes, and ultimately increases the success rates of those undertaking our programs. GFP’s approach ensures that every student benefits from an online education model designed for real success.

Introduction

The Global Freshman Program has been created and developed by ISP-EduWorld (ISP-ED). ISP-ED is a strategic content education marketing company based in Australia and operating on a global basis. The brand is “Global Freshman”. Its target market is prospective international students seeking to study face-to-face and/online in the nine major destinations.

The courses for the GFP are provided by Sophia Learning, a subsidiary of Strategic
Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA), a leader in enabling economic mobility through
education.

The current academic programs for the Global Freshman Program are in Business,
Computing and General Education.

The purpose of the academic program is to provide the opportunity for students to
undertake the first year of study of undergraduate courses online and transfer credit points
to a degree granting university.

The teaching and learning model for the GFP is a blended approach based on a “cohort-
model” which provides students in class groups with access online to the Sophia Learning
courses with educational partners providing in-class tutorial support. This model provides a
high level of engagement with enrolled students and processes for monitoring student
progress that is pivotal to successful student outcomes.

Academic Programs

Global Freshman Program is a course consisting of ten (10) courses made up of five (5) core
and five (5) discipline modules with articulation into second year courses at Member
Universities subject to their internal academic evaluation processes. The program of study
can be completed in less than 12 months. A summary of the program and the streams are
set out below: 

Courses

The courses of study for the Global Freshman Program are owned and distributed by Sophia
Learning, a subsidiary of Strategic Education, Inc. (NASDAQ: STRA).

Sophia Learning’s educational content experts and learning designers have developed the
courses to ensure that they can be accepted for credit at hundreds of colleges and
universities in the United States.

The Global Freshman Program works in conjunction with high-quality education partners to
provide opportunities for students to access these courses and be successful in their studies.
The courses are packaged into discrete programs of study in Business, Computing and
General Education for the GFP in a supported learning environment with Sophia Learning
responsible for content delivery and assessment and the educational partner providing in-
class support.

ACE Evaluation

The American College on Education (ACE) is the major coordinating body for two- and four-
year degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States. Courses and programs
that receive an ACE recommendation have been evaluated by a team of subject matter
experts and determined to provide a learning outcome at the collegiate level.

ACE have conducted an evaluation of Sophia Learning’s courses and determined a
recommendation for credit points based on the content, level of learning and number of
credit hours for acceptance of transfer credits by universities and colleges.

In addition to receiving ACE recommendation, the courses are all also recommended by the
Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), an organization that evaluates distance-learning programs.

Admissions

The following are the admission requirements for the Global Freshman Program.

It is expected that students will be a minimum of 17 years of age to commence the program;
and will turn 18 prior to completion of the program. 

Documentation

All documents that are provided as evidence of English and Academic Studies must be
certified by either the awarding institution or a notary who has sighted the originals.

Global Freshman Program will accept copies that are electronically produced.
Note: All applicants will need to provide the original documents for visa purposes.

Certificates & Transcripts

Students that successfully complete the Global Freshman Program will be issued with a
transcript that shows all the details of the study in the program including name, student
number, courses completed, grades, and ACE evaluation for credit points, along with
information about the issuers.

Course Design

Sophia Learning’s course design process uses the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation (ADDIE) model, a variation of the Wiggins and McTighe Backward Design process, as well as Bloom’s taxonomy to develop each course.

This process includes the following:

Benchmark: Identify equivalent courses from higher education institutions and other providers to establish common curriculum expectations to ensure courses are transferable to a wide range of institutions.

 

Assessment: Design a combination of expert-graded written assessments and automatically graded assessments appropriate to the course curriculum.

Instruction: Create course materials and formative assessment designed to prepare students for success on summative assessments.

Production: Complete quality assurance and technical course build.

Review: Submit to ACE for credit recommendation review, revising until the credit recommendations are approved.

Courses are designed using a problem-based learning model that incorporates theoretical and practical scenarios with the following assessments:

Challenges: Formative assessments with five to 10 multiple-choice questions focused on the real-world application of concepts.

Milestones: Summative assessments with 20 to 30 questions to test mastery of the course
concepts.

Touchstones: Project-based or written assessments that help students apply the mastery of concepts to a real-world problem. Each Touchstone has a project-based deliverable that is evaluated by expert graders. All other grading is automated.

Credit Points USA

All of the Sophia Learning courses offered by ISP-Eduworld for the Global Freshman Program
have been evaluated by ACE to receive three (3) credit-points for each course. This means
that the universities and colleges in the USA that recognize the GFP will provide the
equivalent of up to a full year’s study upon successful completion of the program based on
their evaluation.

European Credit Points

The number of credits points under the European Credits Transfer System (ECTS) for successful completion of the Global Freshman Program (GFP) is 60 points based on its status as the equivalent of a first year of study at a US university.

For every GFP course completed the student will receive 3 credit points; 3 credit points = 6 ECTS points. On this basis the total number of ECTS points for the GFP is 60.

For the Global Freshman Course there are ten (10) courses (subjects) – the same as a first year of study in the US university system. The table shows that based on ECTS credit points students should expect to get advanced standing for the first year of study in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia. *

Based on the number of ECTS credit points for successful completion of the GFP of 60 points the expected number of credit points is listed in the table below:

ECTS CREDIT POINTS EQUIVALENCY TABLE FOR GFP

*Credit points may vary between institutions based on their evaluation of the GFP for their programs of study

Grading

The grading scale is based on 0% – 100%. Courses are graded pass/fail; 70% being the threshold. Any percent under this would be a failure and above would be a pass. Sophia Learning’s competency-based model enables students to improve their scores.

Students may retake a Milestone assessment, resubmit a Touchstone once, or retake the course once. For all Touchstones, students have the option to resubmit the assignment based on the feedback received to get a higher score.

Quality Assurance

The Sophia Learning courses are created as a result of collaboration between content experts and instructional designers. Course reviewers have extensive knowledge of the subject along with teaching experience.

Review process: 

Step 1:  Sophia Learning subject matter experts review each other’s contributions as part of the development process. 

 

Step 2:  American Council on Education faculty reviewers independently review Sophia Learning courses and determine if they will be recommended for credit, the number of credits, and the subject area. 

 

Step 3:  Distance Education Accrediting Commission faculty reviewers evaluate Sophia Learning courses as part of Approved Quality Curriculum program. 

 

Step 4:  Faculty members of partner institutions and prospective partner institutions review Sophia Learning courses to determine whether they will be mapped for credit at their institution and for what courses they are equivalent.

Teaching & Learning

Course delivery is undertaken in a highly supported learning environment known as a “cohort model” with Sophia Learning providing the content and undertaking the assessment with the educational partner providing in-class tutorial support and close monitoring of student progress.

Recent research published in the American Educational Research Journal shows the following:

“Support and Engagement: The key challenge in fully online education is keeping students engaged and supported. The cohort-based model, where students work through the program together with the aid of a facilitator, addresses this by fostering collaboration and peer support, elements that are often missing in self-paced online programs.

Clarification and Guidance: Having a facilitator who can provide clarity and keep students on track is vital. According to the research findings, fully online students struggle in part due to insufficient academic support ( Refer for example to Ortagus, Hughes & Allchin, 2024).

GFP’s model focuses on a supported learning environment mitigates the issue of lack of academic support helping students better manage their workload and stay engaged, thus increasing the rates of completion.

Course Descriptions

English Composition I (3 Credit Points)
This course is designed to build core skills in English Composition and teach students how to apply those skills to become an effective writer. Students will gain proficiency in the usage of basic grammar, punctuation, and mechanics, as well as learn how to construct effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays. Additionally, students will navigate the writing process to develop a variety of different composition types.

Introduction to Psychology (3 Credit Points)
The Psychology course helps students understand the basic principles of psychology and scientific methods. In this course, students will study a variety of topics, including the brain, learning and memory, personality, social influence, child and lifespan development, and psychopathology. Students will apply these psychology topics to decision-making in everyday situations, practicing the skills of problem solving and self and social awareness.

Introduction to Statistics (3 Credit Points)
Introduction to Statistics is designed to guide students in developing mastery of the basic principles and methods of statistics. Students will learn how to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data using graphical and numerical techniques. They will also learn how to apply probability concepts, hypothesis testing, and correlation and regression analysis to real-life situations. By the end of this course, students will be able to use statistics to make
informed decisions and communicate their findings effectively.

Environmental Science (3 Credit Points)
The Environmental Science course will enable students develop an understanding of the scientific principles and processes that shape our environment, as well as the impact of human activities. Students will apply knowledge of a wide range of environmental issues and policies in context, exploring topics such as natural resources, endangered species, pollution, and climate change.

Introduction to Ethics (3 Credit Points)
The Introduction to Ethics course explores philosophical approaches to understanding morality and evaluating moral actions. In this course, students will learn about a variety of normative ethical theories and apply these theories to real-world ethical issues. With an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of major approaches to ethics, students will build the critical thinking skills necessary to justify ethical positions.

Visual Communications (3 Credit Points)
The Visual Communications course provides an introduction to basic concepts of visual design, and then focussing on students applying these concepts in context. Students will explore visual theories of communications and key elements and principles of design, with an emphasis on colour, typography, and layout. In this course, students will learn how to analyse a visual design and the role that visual designs play in today’s society.

Public Speaking (3 Credit Points)
The Public Speaking course will take students through all of the stages of developing a speech, from preparation to rehearsal to presentation. Along the way, students will learn how to become a better listener, manage anxiety, and incorporate feedback effectively. They will apply your knowledge to analysing your audience, conducting research, and presenting speeches for different purposes and occasions.

Human Biology (3 Credit Points)
The Human Biology course helps students analyse fundamental biological principles from a human perspective. Human Biology topics include the molecular and cellular basis of life, genetics, organ systems, and the impact of nutrition and exercise on human health.

Introduction to Sociology (3 Credit Points)
Sociology is a scientific approach to understanding why people behave the way they do, how relationships function, where commonly held values and beliefs come from, and what it means to live in a society. In this course, students will explore a wide variety of human experiences and how sociologists interpret these experiences. Through growing your understanding of the diversity of human experience and through how the parts of society fit
together, students will expand their problem solving, relationship building, and self and social awareness skills.

Workplace Communication (3 Credit Points)
The Workplace Communication course is designed to prepare students for successful workplace communication by providing a background on its components and methods, then exploring oral and written forms in depth. Students will practice composing professional written communication for a specific purpose and audience. Additionally, they will learn about tools for workplace collaboration and efficiency, and how to determine the best meeting and productivity tools for a particular professional context.

Introduction to Business (3 Credit Points)
The Introduction to Business course helps students understand the fundamentals of business. In this course, they will examine the environment of business, the art and science of marketing, what successful management of human resources looks like, and the basics of business finance and business investment. Students will also learn how these concepts apply to companies of all sizes whether big, small or even entrepreneurial.

Principles of Management (3 Credit Points)
The Principles of Management course is designed to introduce students to the four functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. This course describes the skills and techniques required by a manager to perform these functions. Specifically, students will learn about the stages of decision making, ethical business strategies, goal setting, communication skills, and global awareness.

Introduction to Information Technology (3 Credit Points)
The Introduction to Information Technology course provides students with an overview of information systems including hardware and software components, networking, database management, and issues related to privacy, security, and ethics. Students will learn how computers represent, store, and process information and how businesses and organizations use technology and information systems to make decisions.

Principles of Finance (3 Credit Points)
The Principles of Finance course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental principles of finance. Specifically, students will learn about the operating environment of the firm, financial statements, and financial ratios. You will also learn about the time value of money, the characteristics of market instruments, the process of capital budgeting, and elements of working capital management.

Project Management (3 Credit Points)
The Project Management course takes students through the life cycle of managing a project, from designing the scope to completing the project. Along the way, students will gain applied experience with project planning as well as managing project resources and risks.

Introduction to Information Technology (3 Credit Points)
Introduction to Information Technology course provides students with an overview of information systems including hardware and software components, networking, database management, and issues related to privacy, security, and ethics. You will learn how computers represent, store, and process information and how businesses and organizations use technology and information systems to make decisions.

Introduction to Web Development (3 Credit Points)
Introduction to Web Development introduces students to fundamental concepts of web design and development through real-world examples and hands-on practice. Lessons combine practical skills along with broader conceptual knowledge, introducing topics in order of traditional project development methods. This progression follows the sequence from initial conceptualization and design through front-end development, briefly covering
back-end concepts relevant to the final project. Topics include the history of the Internet, planning, development, document markup, scripting languages & web storage. Additional concepts like accessibility, security, and responsive design are also covered. Students will be introduced to various tools used in the industry and are encouraged to build their own personal ‘toolbox’ throughout the course. The browser-based programming environment is utilized to actively practice web development skills and principles. By the end of the course, students will gain a foundational understanding of basic programming that will allow for easier transfer to other languages.

Introduction to Networking (3 Credit Points)
Introduction to Networking course is designed to provide students with the foundational concepts of modern computer networking. This foundation is a base that learners can use as they prepare for certifications like the CompTIA Network+ certification exam. The course begins with a basic exploration of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model for data networks. This section also looks at how the layers of the model interact with each other. In
later sections, learners will be introduced to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and their uses. This section will also have learners exploring methods for routing data through local networks. The later sections of this course will expand into wireless and wide area networks and discussion on differences in how data is tracked and transmitted in those networks. Finally, the course will look at approaches to secure networks against malicious users. This
includes a discussion on viruses, malware, and tips for troubleshooting several types of networks.

Introduction to Relational Databases (3 Credit Points)
The Introduction to Relational Databases course builds mastery in database terminology and concepts, including using popular notational systems to design database schemas with usability and data integrity in mind. Through a study of foundational SQL commands, students learn to create and connect tables, query for data across multiple tables, create indexes to optimize data retrieval, and perform basic administrative tasks that ensure
security and reliability.

Directory

Global Freshman Program
ISP-EduWorld
Level 20, 135 King Street
Sydney NSW 2000

www.globalfreshman.com