The second edition of the Supply Chain Innovation MOOC at the University of Twente is set to kick off on 6 March.
The first edition, which drew 8,000 participants from all over the world, was rated very highly by survey respondents. During this six-week free online course, participants learn how to improve their own supply chains and make them more sustainable. Over 90 percent of survey respondents rated the first edition of the MOOC as either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. The vast majority indicated that the level of the course matched their expectations, although some respondents found it to be slightly more challenging than they had anticipated. An overwhelming majority of respondents also thought the duration of the MOOC was appropriate and were extremely positive about the level of commitment shown by the lecturers.
Tailor-made
Prof. Jos van Hillegersberg, the MOOC’s coordinating lecturer, is pleased with the high number of participants in the first edition of the online course. “It’s great that over 8,000 people were interested in such a specific subject.” Initially, he had planned to make a large number of changes for the second edition. “But the feedback we received was so positive that we no longer felt the need for a complete overhaul. We have introduced a number of small improvements. For instance, we’ve made an effort to distribute the workload more evenly across the course, and we’ve opted for shorter assignments with a narrower focus. Our aim has been to tailor the course to better suit our participants.”
Uncharted territory
Setting up a MOOC was uncharted territory for Van Hillegersberg and his colleagues. “It’s a fascinating process, and we’re learning a lot along the way. You really have to cater to a whole new audience: professionals from all over the world. The challenges these people face are different from those we’re used to: issues like corruption and theft, for example. This generates lively discussions that make the course very interesting for us as well.”
At first glance, setting up a free MOOC is a time-consuming process that does not seem to yield any direct benefits to researchers. Yet Van Hillegersberg is already thinking ahead to a third edition. “The most important thing is that you have fun doing it, and that you find it interesting. But there are also plenty of indirect benefits to your research: it increases your visibility and boosts your name recognition.” Van Hillegersberg is speaking from experience: a large Dutch company became aware of his work through the MOOC and asked him to participate in a new initiative. “The MOOC is also a great way to share the results of your research, and you can use it as a testing ground for new ideas, as a source of data, and to conduct surveys.”
Supply Chain Innovation
During the Supply Chain Innovation MOOC, participants learn how to improve their own supply chains and make them more sustainable. It focuses on professional practice, cutting-edge science, and the latest innovations in IT. The course is aimed at professionals and students who want to look beyond areas such as production, distribution, marketing and finance. It is designed to provide insight into the complex network of activities throughout the entire supply chain. The second edition of the MOOC, offered through the FutureLearn platform, will kick off on 6 March 2017. During the six-week course, participants will spend approximately three hours a week on course work.
Register now
For more information about the MOOC and to sign up, visit the FutureLearn website.
