The digital transformation of education and the massive open online courses (MOOCs)

Dinner Debate

• E-SKILLS
• ICT

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) took the world by storm in 2012. Mainstream news sources picked up on the excitement and the commentary on the opportunities that MOOCs presented was wide-reaching. MOOCs are a product of a growing recognition that the way we work, interact, and even learn is changing as digital media reshapes our expectations for communication.

In face of fierce global competition for the digital education market, Europe’s education institutions need to respond positively to these changes by continually increasing their supply of quality digital content. Further, the rapid diversification of credentials (including micro-degrees and digital badges) as a direct result of MOOCs are of great significance to the evolution of the European Higher Education landscape. With more than 4.5 million young people unemployed today in the EU, education providers are now faced with new responsibilities and opportunities offered by accessible education for all. MOOCs, in particular in the fields of Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology (STEM), can play an important role in responding to the skills gap challenge.

During the EIF dinner debate, good practices, challenges and policy recommendations in relation to the evolving MOOCs landscape will be discussed at length. The era of digital technologies and big data presents wider EU policy implications, including the need for uniform data protection rules as well as for competitive ICT infrastructures connecting Europe’s education institutions, industry and entrepreneurs globally. In order to ensure a comprehensive discussion on the Digital Transformation of Education, the EIF dinner will bring together perspectives from a variety of stakeholders, including policy and decision makers, as well as representatives from Higher Education, industry and the publishing sector.

EIF is a partner of eSkills for Jobs 2015 campaign