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Providing MOOCs: A FUN way to enroll students?

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  • Jacqmin, Julien

Abstract

This paper aims at assessing whether universities improve their enrollment in traditional taught in-person programs by providing MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses). Focusing on French universities, we look at the impact on enrollment figures of providing MOOC on France Université Numérique (FUN), a MOOC platform. We find that new students intake of universities offering MOOCs rises over 2% the following academic year, all else being equal. Analyzing data related to the characteristics of students enrolled in online and traditional programs as well to media coverage, we see two intertwined explanations for this positive relationship. One relates to the enhanced information available to students when making their enrollment decision; the other lies in the attention-grabbing - and likely persuasive - character of the event created around MOOCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqmin, Julien, 2019. "Providing MOOCs: A FUN way to enroll students?," Information Economics and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 32-39.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iepoli:v:48:y:2019:i:c:p:32-39
    DOI: 10.1016/j.infoecopol.2018.10.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacqmin, Julien, 2018. "Why are some online courses more open than others?," MPRA Paper 89929, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. López, Rafael & Valarezo, Ángel & Pérez-Amaral, Teodosio, 2023. "Unleashing the potential of online learning in Spain: An econometric analysis," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(6).
    3. López, Rafael & Valarezo, Ángel & Pérez-Amaral, Teodosio, 2021. "Online education adoption in Spain 2008-2019. Drivers and impediments," 23rd ITS Biennial Conference, Online Conference / Gothenburg 2021. Digital societies and industrial transformations: Policies, markets, and technologies in a post-Covid world 238038, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    4. Jacqmin, Julien, 2022. "Why are some Massive Open Online Courses more open than others?," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    MOOCs; Enrollment; Higher education institutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • M3 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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