You might be surprised at how varied online courses can be!

Online education can be anything from a shoddy video to a highly sophisticated well crafted learning pathway. After 47 years developing courses, we strive to produce the highly sophisticated learning pathway.

Online Education can mean many things

In early 2025 we were preparing a submission requested by government. One interesting revelation from research for this report has been how varied the use of the term “online” has become. We found “online” courses fitting all types of scenarios, including the following:

  • A teleconference call at a set time and day each week where a pre-recorded or live lecture is given online.
  • Work books and reading materials sent to the student by email.
  • Pre-recorded videos to watch, followed by one or more assessments either carried out online, or at an on-campus workshop.
  • Reading material followed by A.I. driven and marked assessments.
  • A combination of diverse learning strategies and different assessment strategies constructed as a well thought out learning pathway.

We found one college describing an online course as a series of study guides sent by email for you to read through, backed up by a help line you can contact if need be.

We’ve heard of universities that record a lecturer talking at a podium in a lecture theatre, then provide online access to those lectures as an online course.

A colleague told us about an entrepreneur who was paying celebrities to film a series of talks on a topic then selling downloads of that series as an “online course”.

A lot of businesses now sell what they call “micro credentials” that might be as little as an hour of watching video and doing an online self-assessment test. 

Clearly a very short simple course delivered in a one-dimensional way, cannot be considered the same sort of learning experience as something that involves engaging with learning materials in different ways, at different points, each time building upon the last, and reinforcing what was learned earlier. A multi-dimensional learning pathway, experienced over many weeks or months is how you truly learn. This is real learning through a serious course.

What Online is at ACS?

Our courses have evolved over the decades to become more sophisticated in terms of how they engineer a deep, long term learning experience. This is not always the case with either on campus or online education.

If you want a sustainable education business, you are better to be using sustainable, up to date, effective courses. To do so is critical if you want return business and happy clients. This has always been our approach.

Do it well. Do it properly. Put the customer first.  Perhaps that’s why ACS is still strong after 46 years.

Partnership Opportunities 

ACS has spent 46 years developing and delivering distance and online education to school leavers and adults. Our courses and systems of teaching are tried and proven. We currently offer over 600 short courses, and over 200 different certificates and other qualifications.

Our courses are mostly delivered by partners who pay a royalty for use of our I.P.  We have a team of dedicated staff who support our partnered colleges, with friendly advice on many of your college's operations. 

Every course is reviewed and updated every 3 to 4 years, and popular courses even more often. With new content being published and made available regularly also.  It a great time to start something you've always dreamed of. 

See our range of courses here:

100 hour short courses and certificates - click here

20 and 10 hour courses -click here and scroll down



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What our clients say

We've been working with ACS over the course of the last three years. Being able to mix and match content to suit our students' needs has been extremely useful. With their material in combination with our own in house tutor service we have been able to provide a complete online learning service which has helped us expand our student cohort and advance our teaching techniques! We are thankful that we have had them as a partner throughout our time in the industry and look forward to many more years of growth together.

Jason T - Director, ACS Partner College (Affiliate)

ACS Distance Education have been fantastic to work with over our first 12 months as a start-up online short education affiliate.
They provided immense support in the foundation period ensuring we setup the best support mechanisms for students and engaging quality tutors.
ACS have continued to be receptive to feedback and promptly moved to make improvements wherever required.

David C - Director, ACS Partner College (Affiliate)

Having access to ACS' extensive library of digitalised education content has allowed us to scale our business quickly and efficiently. Their LMS is easy to access and manage, whilst also providing the consumer (student) with a professional and easy to use experience. John and Kate have always been a pleasure to work with and are quick to provide support when it is required."

Andrew O - Director, ACS Partner College (Affiliate)

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Please note: we are only considering requests from Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Europe, North America, the Middle East, South Africa, United Kingdom.