The UK Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) OpenupEd, which includes Open University, has announced plans to expand to include several more institutions across the EU, according to a recent press release.
OpenupEd offers business course credit and certifications that can be used to attain new degrees — ideal for executives who want to expand their skill set in preparation for a new position. MOOCs may hold the most potential for adults who already have degrees in specific fields, but want to add to their education portfolio to prepare for a career change.
Executive education is a frequently tapped solution to rapidly changing markets and employment decisions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends 4.6 years at a job, making specialized job training one of the few ways people can make the transition to future positions. The higher up the corporate hierarchy, the greater amount of education necessary to make a job transition. This is where modern education methods like MOOCs prove so valuable.
From an executive standpoint, a MOOC offers several advantages over traditional business classes or universities. They are low-cost (often free), available through online portals that make it easy to access materials at any time and have the potential to disrupt the way industries teach skills forever.
Leading MOOCs like Coursera are already offering classes for teacher development that allow teachers to gain new skills so that school administrators can work with them to find new or more applicable positions. Names among MOOCs tend to be well-recognized schools like Harvard, Yale, MIT, Oxford and Stanford, adding prestige to the offering.
The next step is for business leaders to develop job-training strategies that include the use of online learning opportunities. When organizational change is on the horizon, businesses can incorporate low-cost online education models when choosing talent management goals. Companies can save money on previously expensive training, while new opportunities open for consultants and IT specialists.
In a world where MOOCs are beginning to revolutionize business training, everyone stands to benefit — particularly the employees who use the inexpensive courses to increase their market value. The first organizations to act will be the first to save.
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