Abstract
MOOCs are complex and expensive objects, which, contrary to ordinary courses, require a full team, to be created. There is a large gap between building and delivering a few MOOCs and systematically transforming a conventional teaching into MOOCs. Being expensive any long-term project, based on MOOCs, cannot be launched without a business model. This is the theme of this chapter. We will first estimate the cost of a MOOC and explain why most universities do have neither the finances nor the manpower to systematically transform their teaching and massively create MOOCs. No business model can be fund without new means of financing: cooperation among universities, donators, special funding… We will explain the complementary roles of MOOCs providers and of MOOCs creators and explain why they do not have other choice than to work together and find complementary business models. In a last part we will show, through some examples, emerging business models for both the providers and the creators. The future of MOOCs and online learning is closely linked to the consolidation of these business models.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Barshay J. (2013). My first MOOC: Online class about how to create online classes failed miserabily. The Hechinger Report. Retrieved from http://digital.hechingerreport.org/content/my-first-mooc-crashed_371/
Butecher N., & Wilson-Strydom M. (2012). A guide to quality in online learning. Academics partnership. Retrieved from http://teachonline.ca/sites/default/files/tips-tools/A%20Guide%20to%20Quality%20in%20Online%20Learning.pdf
Caramel L. (2015). Le calvaire des étudiants de l’Université Virtuelle du Sénégal. Le Monde. Retrieved July 23, 2015 from http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2015/07/23/le-calvaire-bien-reel-des-etudiants-de-l-universite-virtuelle-du-senegal_4695253_3212.html
Chafkin M. (2013). Udacity’s Sebastian Thrun, godfather of free online education changes course. Fastcompany. Retrieved November 14 from http://www.fastcompany.com/3021473/udacity-sebastian-thrun-uphill-climb
Class Central. (2015). List of MOOCs providers. Retrieved from https://www.class-central.com/providers
Edraak. (2013). Arabic MOOC Platform. Retrieved from https://www.edraak.org/
eLearning Africa News (2015). Retrieved from http://ela-newsportal.com/tag/mooc/
EPFL. (2012). MOOC studio recording. Center for Digital Education. Retrieved from https://documents.epfl.ch/groups/m/mo/moocs/www/MOOC-Full-Studio.pdf
EPFL. (2014). Formations hybrides EPFL. Retrieved from http://moocs.epfl.ch/page-118161-fr.html
Frey T. (2013). By 2030 over 50 % of colleges will collapse. Retrieved from http://www.futuristspeaker.com/2013/07/by-2030-over-50-of-colleges-will-collapse/
FUN. (2013). France Université Numérique. http://www.france-universite-numerique.fr/moocs.html
Futurelearn. (2013). UK MOOC Platform. Retrieved from http://www.futurelearn.com
Garner (2015). Research methodologies. Gartenr. Retrieved from http://www.gartner.com/technology/research/methodologies/hype-cycle.jsp
Guo, P. (2013). Retrieved from http://blog.edx.org/optimal-video-length-student-engagement/
Hill, P. (2015). ASU, edX and The Black Knight: MOOCs are not dead yet. E-Literate. Retrieved from April 22 http://mfeldstein.com/asu-edx-and-the-black-knight-moocs-are-not-dead-yet/
Iversity. (2015). Retrieved from https://iversity.org/en/pages/financing-round-in-the-millions
Koller, D. (2012). Interview at Wharton School. Retrieved from http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/moocs-on-the-move-how-coursera-is-disrupting-the-traditional-classroom/
Koller, D. (2015). Interview at Wharton School. Retrieved from http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/moocs-making-progress-hype-died/
Kolowich, S. (2013). How EdX plans to earn and share revenues from ist free online course. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved February 21, from http://chronicle.com/article/How-EdX-Plans-to-Earn-and/137433/
Mathewson, T. G. (2015). Udacity’s new business model markets nanodegrees for high-demand skills. Education Dive. Retrieved September 17 from http://www.educationdive.com/news/udacitys-new-business-model-markets-nanodegrees-for-in-demand-skills/405832/
McGuire, R. (2014) Is the Udemy Marketplace model still valuable to instructors?. Skilldup. Retrieved December 5 from http://www.skilledup.com/insights/is-the-udemy-marketplace-model-still-valuable-to-instructors
Openclassrooms. (2013). OPenclassrooms. Retrieved from http://www.openclassrooms.com
OpenupEd. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.openuped.eu/
Oyo, B., & Kalema, B. M. (2014) Massive open online courses for Africa by Africa. IRRODL. Retrieved December from http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1889/3127
Parr, C. (2014). Reputation at risk as platform fail to screen MOOCs, Time Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/reputations-at-risk-as-platforms-fail-to-screen-moocs/2014381.article
Pomerol, J-C., Epelboin, Y., & Thoury, C. (2014). MOOCs, design, use and business models. Wiley Eds.
Porto Declaration. (2014). Porto declaration on European MOOCs. Porto. Retrieved November 27 from http://www.eadtu.eu/images/News/Porto_Declaration_on_European_MOOCs_Final.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EADTU+Newsletter+November+2015&utm_content=EADTU+Newsletter+November+2015+CID_12422e5728562d0324c93d7c15c01389&utm_source=Analytics&utm_term=Porto%20Declaration
Roos, D. (2014). How edX works. HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved October 17 from http://people.howstuffworks.com/edx.htm
Shah, D. (2013). MOOCs in 2013. Breaking down the numbers. Edsurge. Retrieved December 22 from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2013-12-22-moocs-in-2013-breaking-down-the-numbers
Shah, D. (2015). How does Coursera make money?. Edsurge. Retrieved October 15 from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2014-10-15-how-does-coursera-make-money
Straumsheim, C. (2015). All-MOOC M.B.A. Inside HigherEd. Retrieved May 5 from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/05/05/u-illinois-urbana-champaign-offer-online-mba-through-coursera
The Economist (2014). The future of universities. The digital degree. Retrieved June 28th, 2014 Ed from http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21605899-staid-higher-education-business-about-experience-welcome-earthquake-digital
Udemy. (2013) Udemy. Retrieved from http://www.udemy.com
Waters, J. K. (2014) Breaking the MOOC model. Campus Technology. Retrieved January 2014 from http://online.qmags.com/CPT0114?sessionID=56D4E974BEF0C8ABAFEEFA5FA&cid=2732174&eid=18574#pg18&mode1
Wikipedia. (2015). Coursera. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coursera
XuetangX. (2013). Chine MOOC Platform. Retrieved from https://www.xuetangx.com/
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Epelboin, Y. (2017). MOOCs: A Viable Business Model?. In: Jemni, M., Kinshuk, Khribi, M. (eds) Open Education: from OERs to MOOCs. Lecture Notes in Educational Technology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-52925-6_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-52925-6_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-662-52923-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-662-52925-6
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)