Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) are revolutionising learning experiences globally. Against this context, PolyU has been dedicated in promoting MOOC and has recently joined the edX University Advisory Board as a contributing Charter Member. Prof. Chetwyn Chan, Associate Vice President (Learning and Teaching), shared the University’s latest development and achievements in promoting MOOC.
How many MOOCs are currently offered? Which is the most popular course?
PolyU has launched a total of 10 MOOCs, among which four of them constitute the International Hospitality Management MicroMasters programme, on edX since August 2015, extending its reach to learners from 175 countries and regions. The most popular course, “Human Anatomy” offered by School of Nursing, recorded nearly 75,000 enrolled students, setting a new record for Asian MOOCs in the discipline. Two new MOOCs are scheduled to be launched in January 2018, namely, “Industry 4.0: How to revolutionize your business” and “Introduction to Urban Geo-Informatics”.
Please share the latest development of the University’s MicroMasters programme.
In January 2017, PolyU launched the MicroMasters programme in International Hospitality Management, offered in the form of MOOC via the edX platform. It attracted total enrollment in excess of 35,000, with more than 400 paid learners. Among 400 paid learners, more than 200 learners completing at least one course (“Luxury Management”, “Hospitality and Tourism Technology and Innovation”, “Managing Marketing in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry”, and “Managing Human Resources in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry”) and successfully earning the credential of MicroMasters programme. Such learners are eligible to apply for the School of Hotel and Tourism Management’s Master of Sciences in International Hospitality Programme. If accepted, they may be exempted from some courses. The MicroMasters programme will rerun in January 2018.
What are the benefits of PolyU’s collaboration with edX?
PolyU’s collaboration with edX dated back to May 2014 when an agreement was signed to join edX in offering MOOCs. This provides opportunities for PolyU teaching staff to gain exposure to new teaching pedagogies and co-develop courses and programmes with overseas institutions. PolyU students are able to learn and exchange with overseas students through MOOCs, thus enjoying a more international learning environment.
Recently, PolyU has joined edX’s University Advisory Board. Not only will the partnership increase edX’s presence in Asia, it will also enable the University to play an increasing important role in revolutionising learning experience in the international arena.
How will MOOC be further developed at PolyU?
The University targets to launch at least four new MOOC courses in 2018, covering areas in information literacy and understanding older population needs, fashion design, design thinking and engineering. There are also plans to jointly develop MOOCs with overseas universities, such as University of Illinois at Urbana-Champion, DELFT University and Kyoto University, as well as to invite renowned MOOC teams to co-teach.
In 10 years’ time, we target to offer some 20 MOOCs per year (including both new and re-run MOOCs), five MicroMasters programmes, five professional certificate programmes and two full online programmes.