By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
The transformative impacts of massive open online courses date back to 2012 when platforms like Coursera and edX were established in the United States. The trend rapidly gained momentum, spreading across Europe and the Asia Pacific region, democratizing access to high quality learning through technological innovation.
MOOCs integrate content, pedagogy, quality assurance, and technology, making educational courses traditionally confined to face to face, campus based settings accessible to a wide audience. This approach opens doors for disadvantaged and remote students, improving access, quality, and equity in higher education.
A Shared Journey
Following the MOOC movement's growth in the US and Europe, several national platforms have launched across Asia and the Pacific. Notably, China’s XuetangX and the University of the Philippines Open University’s MOOC initiative emerged in 2013, followed by Japan’s JMOOC in 2014, the Republic of Korea’s K MOOC in 2015, Thai MOOC in 2016, and the Indonesia Cyber Education Institute in 2021.
In response, UNESCO Bangkok organized a Regional Expert Meeting on MOOCs for Higher Education in Asia and the Pacific. This pivotal event in Chengdu, China, from 31 July to 1 August 2015, marked the start of collective efforts to advance MOOCs in the region. The second meeting, hosted by the Korean National Institute for Lifelong Learning in Seoul on 10 and 11 October 2016, focused on MOOCs as catalysts for enriching teaching and learning in Asia and the Pacific.
Building on these efforts, UNESCO Bangkok joined the Thailand Cyber University, K MOOC, and JMOOC to organize the First Asia Pacific MOOCs Stakeholders Summit on 2to3 March 2017 in Bangkok, officially launching Thai MOOC and signing memoranda of understanding between JMOOC, K MOOC, and Thai MOOC.
In Shenzhen, China, on 11 12 June 2018, the Asia Pacific Regional Seminar on MOOCs for Higher Education Embracing Digital Opportunities for SDG 4 was hosted by UNESCO ICHEI, with 117 participants from nearly 30 countries. UNESCO Bangkok has since maintained regular engagement with partners to facilitate international cooperation and exchange between MOOC platforms in the region and beyond. A recent MoU between Thai MOOC and XuetangX, signed in May 2024, exemplifies these ongoing collaborations.
The Multifaceted Benefits of MOOCs
MOOCs offer several benefits reflected in their acronym,
massive
MOOCs reach significantly more learners than traditional on-campus education. For countries like Indonesia working to improve their gross enrolment ratios , MOOCs are a cost effective solution for expanding higher education access.
Open
MOOCs are publicly available to all motivated learners, often at little to no cost, extending beyond traditional student cohorts to include adult and lifelong learners, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds.
online
MOOCs integrate digital technology in developing and delivering learning programs, fostering collaboration between technology specialists, content developers, quality assurance practitioners, and pedagogical experts.
course
MOOCs operate at the individual course level, which can be unbundled into smaller units or bundled into larger programs, aligning with micro credential programs to enhance flexibility, relevance, and quality.
Investing in Infrastructure for MOOCs
Developing and delivering MOOCs requires significant investment in infrastructure. Prioritizing improved internet transmission speeds through 5G technology is crucial, as inadequate service can hinder the learning experience. Creating MOOC portals with integrated learning management systems at national and institutional levels requires consistent financial and human resources.
Supportive centers at the institutional level should serve as hubs for technological expertise, quality assurance, and pedagogical guidance, empowering faculty members to develop and implement MOOCs. Budgets should cover relevant applications and services to maintain shared infrastructure and ensure access to the latest technologies.
Incentivizing and Empowering Faculty Members
Governments can support MOOC initiatives with financial incentives and recognition within national qualifications frameworks. Faculty training resources, often in the form of MOOCs, should be integrated with micro credential programs offering continuing professional development credits. Linking these programs with human resource management systems can improve ICT skills and career advancement opportunities.
In Malaysia, institutions like Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia offer financial incentives to MOOC developers, while others include MOOC development in performance evaluations.
Linking MOOCs with Open Educational Resources
MOOCs and open educational resources share the principle of openness, though their emphasis differs. MOOCs focus on affordability and access, while OERs center on the utilization of learning resources. Synergies between MOOCs and OERs can enhance educational accessibility, provided that cost barriers are minimized.
The 2017 Ljubljana OER Action Plan suggests that governments enforce OER commitments for educational content providers, while institutions should include OER objectives in their social responsibility initiatives.
Supportive Credit Bank Systems
Credit bank systems facilitate the recognition and transferability of MOOC based learning experiences, essential for lifelong learning. Developing national credit transfer systems that align with qualifications frameworks can ensure consistency and recognition. In Korea, the K MOOC Academic Credit Recognition System includes 41 universities, with 413 MOOCs accepted as regular credit courses.
Blockchain technology shows promise for enhancing credit bank systems, as seen in Indonesia’s integration efforts. UNESCO continues to gather use cases to expand and share experiences across the region.
Partnerships for Progress
MOOCs are increasingly recognized for their role in improving access, quality, and equity in higher education. Enabling ecosystems are essential to support MOOCs, involving national health checks to identify barriers and develop action plans. National frameworks for MOOCs, supported by micro credentials and OERs, are crucial for regional harmonization and global impact, with UNESCO facilitating collaboration among MOOC platforms and stakeholders.