Developers’ perspectives on MOOC sustainability in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract

The rapid growth of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has impacted Malaysian higher education landscape where the Ministry of Higher Education has launched Malaysia MOOC, the first country in the world to implement government-initiated MOOCs for all public universities. The ministry allocates RM500 million for all public universities to offer the MOOC, under the 2016-2020 Eleventh Malaysia Plan. In the context of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, it is one of the primary forerunners in MOOCs execution and implementation for Malaysia MOOC. Known as UTM MOOC, it has been implemented since 2014 and up to September 2016, it has reached its third cycle. However, there is a deficit of researches conducted on developer perspective in MOOC implementation, specifically in its sustainability in the Malaysian higher educational institution. Hence, this study aims to gauge the perceptions of MOOC developer within the parameter of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Critical case sampling method is chosen via a series of interviews with 13 out of 20 developers of 7 MOOCs in the first cycle of its implementation. The finding from this research is hoped to guide policy makers, university administrators and MOOC managers in optimizing MOOCs execution at the institutional level, which will lead to its sustainability and effectiveness of all the MOOCs stakeholders.