ANYONE can now register for free business courses at the Regenesys Business School.

The school now offers four courses - at no cost - towards a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) or Bachelor of Administration (BBA) degree, or the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management or the Higher Certificate in Business Management.

Interested students will gain access to lectures on video, e-books and previous question papers on the school's website through their cellphones or computers.

Regenesys director Brett Cousins said the programme "would open the doors of learning for everyone, not only to people who plan to advance to executive levels, but also to entrepreneurs and school leavers".

"The free education model is based on a 'freemium model' that essentially gives anyone full access to Regenesys' intellectual property in the form of free learning material, tutoring videos and study guides.

"By registering online students enjoy unlimited access to these learning materials at no cost," Cousins said.

"If students decide to obtain an accredited qualification, options exist within the 'freemium model' for students to submit assignments, write examinations or attend classes - a paid for service.

"This also allows a student the freedom to complete a qualification module by module according to his own time requirements."

Students still have to meet the minimum requirements, like having a matric certificate, before registering for the various courses.

Contact students - those who attend full-time - pay R175,000 for the MBA course, but if they register online, they will be required to pay between R35,000 and R75,000, depending on their needs.

The Bachelor of Business Administration degree costs R75,000, the Postgraduate Diploma in Management costs R28,000 and the Higher Certificate in Business Management course costs R24,000, These are only available online.

Cousins said Regenesys hoped to reach at least one million students over the next three years.

- monamat@sowetan.co.za