EMOOCs Business Track

Track Chairs

Janine Kiers (TU Delft, Netherlands)
Dhawal Shah (Class Central, US)
Christian Friedl (FH Joanneum Graz, Austria)

Call for Papers

In the last years, different developments can be observed in the area of ​​MOOCs: the “all is free for all” approach did not result in a sustainable business model for providers or platforms, and a more market oriented approach was needed to make courses stand out in the massive number of available courses, and result in more learners and more finishers. Industry is a relevant player in the field: not only as a provider, but also as a user and customer of MOOCs. Various universities, institutions and also NGOs have founded their own MOOC portals, but there are also increasing numbers of commercial providers who are dedicated to the implementation, support and distribution of MOOCs.

Especially in times of global crisis with quarantine restrictions and a sudden push of digitization, a new phase of trying out, evaluating and further developing is raised. The MOOCs nudge a discussion about the future of universities, the role of face-to-face teaching and the importance of online elements in studies and further education. In addition, their relation with industry is changing and the potential of MOOCs in companies is playing an increasingly important role here. On the one hand the questions arise, what specific requirements, didactically and technologically, do companies have in order to support, motivate and expand their employees in LLL. Are companies and universities aware of the potentials and pitfalls and are they prepared to open up for this development? But also, what are the opportunities for companies and start-ups in this business area? How to address the market, are there policy issues and how valid are these business models?

We invite you to submit papers to discuss these issues. Topics include but are not limited to:

  • Adopting an industry oriented approach in an academic institution
  • Business models for MOOCs, balancing open/free and (financial) sustainability
  • The role of academia vis-a-vis commercially driven companies
  • Specific responses and models in the current pandemic
  • Marketing and communication in and for MOOCs
  • Different roles of MOOCs in a business setting (e.g. corporate responsibility, recruitment, customer training, employee training at scale, marketing)
  • Co-creation by industry and academia
  • The integration of MOOCs into company systems (e.g. LMS, corporate culture, HR)
  • Recognition of MOOCs by HR (recruiting, development, upskilling)
  • Awareness, potentials and pitfalls of MOOCs in companies
  • Case studies of MOOCs in companies

Submission of Papers (due February 22, 2021 (extended))

In this track we accept two types of submissions:

  • Lightweight submissions: These up to 3 pages submissions will not be published in the conference proceedings. Please use this template for a lightweight submission:

  • Short paper: These submissions of up to five pages including references will be published in the conference proceedings. Please use this template for a complete submission:

Submissions will be handled through EasyChair.

The use of the supplied template is mandatory for your paper to be published in the proceedings:

Please remember to indicate the relevant Track when you submit your paper.

Business Track Committee

Suzanne de Bruijn
Business developer lifelong learning
Wageningen University & Research

Dr. Rob Farrow
Senior Research Fellow
Open Education Research Hub​ / Global OER Graduate Network 
The Open University, UK