The Implications of a National High-Stakes MOOC on the Business Models of Academic Institutions, and on their Faculty and Students

Abstract

Technological innovation in higher education is actively discussed in the research literature and public discourse. Recently this discussion emphasizes the adoption of massive open online courses (MOOCs) and their potential impact on the business models of academic institutions, their faculty and students. Previous publications mostly explored low-stakes MOOCs that do not substitute traditional for-fee academic courses (Sandeen, 2013). This research of a high-stakes MOOC that substitutes an existing fee-based academic course, explores its impact on the institutional business model, faculty and students of academic institutions. The study is currently in its early stages. This paper briefly describes the context, the research questions, the methodology and the expected contributions to theory and practice. The lecture will present preliminary findings of the study.