MOOCs are actually changing people’s lives #GEI 30
Global Education Insights #GEI 30
This week, a new report from Coursera reveals the true impact of MOOCs, showing that there are tangible benefits to completing an online course. The second report from a three-part series by Tyton Partners provides a comprehensive scan of the postsecondary digital courseware landscape, revealing the challenges facing providers.
A survey of US institutions shows increasing first-time graduate-level enrolment and the massive increase in international graduate enrolments in the US, particularly in the STEM fields. Still in the US, another survey found that only half of college graduates strongly feel that their degree was worth the cost.
Finally, the Human Capital Report by the World Economic Forum compares how countries nurture talent through education, skills development and deployment at all stages of the human life cycle.
A recent survey of Coursera students found that almost nine in ten MOOC completers report career or educational benefits, and a third report tangible benefits such as getting a new job, starting a business, or completing prerequisites for an academic program. Both career and educational benefits are more likely reported by people from developing countries. Over 25 million people from around the world have enrolled in a MOOC in the last three years and although it doesn’t seem to be the substitute to higher education so many people feared it would be, this research suggests that MOOCs are creating positive outcomes for completers.
Report by Coursera, September 2015 Download
Finland tops the Human Capital Index
The World Economic Forum’s Human Capital Report finds that a world where “nobody is left behind” remains a distant prospect, even in advanced economies. The first study of its kind measures countries’ ability to nurture talent through education, skills development and deployment at all stages of the human life cycle. Finland ranks number one in the index, having developed and deployed 86% of its human capital potential. While the United States is ranked 40th, behind Serbia, Latvia, Malta and Jordan. This report provides comprehensive information on the talent base in each country, including information on education levels of the employed, unemployed and the inactive members of the population as well as the specific qualifications of the latest entrants to the workforce.
Report by the World Economic Forum, May 2015 Download
Student debt suspending future plans
In recent years the value of a college education in the U.S. has been subject to debate. Tuition has been rising at nearly three times the rate of inflation, and the total amount of outstanding student loan debt has grown to over $1.2 trillion. A recent survey of 30,000 college graduates by Gallup highlights the economic impact of the rising student debt load and how it has suspended many graduates’ plans for the future. Of recent graduates with more than $25,000 of debt, 43% have delayed buying a home, 40% delayed buying a car and 25% delayed starting a business. More than half have postponed post-secondary education. Only half of the students surveyed said they “strongly agree” their degree was worth the cost.
Report by Gallup and Purdue University, September 2015 Download
STEM the drawcard for international graduate students
The Council of Graduate Schools’ recently released report shows a 3.5% one-year increase in first-time graduate enrolment between Fall 2013 and Fall 2014 — the largest since 2009. Institutions received more than 2.1 million applications for Fall 2014, extended over 850,000 offers of admission in Fall 2014, and enrolled nearly 480,000 incoming, first-time graduate students in fall 2014 graduate certificate, education specialist, master’s or doctoral programs — all new highs. The contributions of international graduate students is also becoming increasingly important. From 2004 to 2014, international students accounted for over two-thirds of the growth in first-time enrolment headcounts at U.S. graduate institutions. Furthermore, international students are more likely than their domestic counterparts to study in STEM fields, with 65.9% of all temporary resident graduate students enrolled in Fall 2014. In contrast, only 27.1% of U.S. citizen/permanent resident graduate students were enrolled in these fields.
Report by Council of Graduate Students, September 2015 Download
Courseware leaving faculty unsatisfied
This second report in Tyton Partners’ three-part series on digital courseware in higher education provides a comprehensive scan of the market revealing that digital courseware enjoys high awareness and significant use by postsecondary faculty, but leaves many users woefully dissatisfied and also faces considerable barriers to further adoption. The report found that innovations accumulate rather than displace one another. This phenomenon makes it difficult for newer solutions to gain awareness and differentiate themselves from the pool of existing offerings, thus creating a lag between product innovations and their proliferation in the market. In the face of increasing demands on the postsecondary system, these findings are a call to action for institutions and suppliers to redefine digital courseware and to catalyse improved teaching and learning.
Report by Tyton Partners, March 2015 Download
This week’s infographic
