Advancing MOOCs for Development Initiative Final Report

The initiative aimed to collect data on the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) in three transitioning countries on three continents to better understand their potential for improving employment opportunities. Research was conducted to increase understanding of MOOCs, with three original research publications providing insight on factors affecting MOOC usage and completion in the developing world. The publications included An Examination of MOOC Usage for Professional Workforce Development Outcomes in Colombia, the Philippines & South Africa, CourseTalk Website Data Analytics Report, and Testing Prototypes to Increase Usage and Certification Rates of MOOCs in Colombia. These reports utilized in-person and online surveys, focus groups, and key informant interviews to gather data on awareness and use of MOOCs in the target countries. Outreach and promotion efforts were also conducted to raise awareness of MOOCs for educational and workforce development. This included targeted outreach to key stakeholders, public events, social media outreach, and online communications pieces. Events were held at international conferences such as USAID's Global Education Summit and other symposia for diverse audiences in various locations. Social media campaigns highlighted research findings for a global audience of educators, practitioners, policymakers, journalists, and entrepreneurs. Engagement activities involved directly engaging diverse government, NGO, academic, and private sector partners as champions of MOOCs for educational and workforce development. In Colombia, champions included Trust for Americas, Telefonica, the Global Apprenticeship Network, the National Association of Businesses of Colombia, and Global Libraries Colombia. In the Philippines, champions included the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), E-Eskwela for out-of-school learners, and the University of the Philippines. In South Africa, IREX worked with Rhodes University and the Young African Leadership Initiative of the US State Department and USAID. Strategic partnerships were established to highlight best practices, including the MOOC Expert Committee (MEC), a rallying platform of professionals from different industries, organizations, and countries working to advance the development of social learning through MOOCs. Committee members included IREX, TASCHA, CourseTalk, Telefonica, the Inter-American Investment Corporation, and the United States Agency for International Development. The World Bank, the Fullbridge Group, and edX also expressed interest in participating. The AMDI program consisted of activities in four areas: research, promotional campaigns, engagement of stakeholders, and strategic partnerships. The research component aimed to increase understanding of MOOCs, while promotional campaigns raised awareness of MOOCs among policy makers, employers, and the general public. Engagement activities involved directly engaging stakeholders in academic, NGO, government, and business sectors to increase MOOC use. Strategic partnerships highlighted best practices and expanded awareness of MOOCs for educational and workforce development. The program's research findings highlighted the potential of MOOCs for improving employment opportunities in the developing world. The reports provided insight on factors affecting MOOC usage and completion, including perspectives from government, academics, and employers. The research also identified variables that influence MOOC users, such as access to technology, internet connectivity, and language barriers. The AMDI program's outreach and promotion efforts reached a global audience of approximately 80,000 people and organizations. Social media campaigns generated approximately 2,100,000 impressions, highlighting research findings and raising awareness of MOOCs for educational and workforce development. The program's engagement activities directly engaged diverse government, NGO, academic, and private sector partners as champions of MOOCs. The MOOC Expert Committee (MEC) was established to expand and continue awareness raising of the potential of MOOCs for educational and workforce development beyond AMDI. The committee will continue to moderate the MEC beyond the program's duration, highlighting best practices and expanding awareness of MOOCs.