The New Generation of Massive Open Online Course (MOOCS) and Entrepreneurship Education

Abstract

Learners all over the world, including rising entrepreneurs, have increased educational opportunities due to the internet’s affordance of connectivity. This study examines the rapid shift and evolution in online education by Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC). We focus on what is being called xMOOCs, the second generation, providers of free, worldwide online courses from the world’s most renowned professors and universities. The implications of MOOCs on higher and entrepreneurial education are explored and effective strategies for future implementation are discussed. Higher Economic Institutions (HEI) are in the middle of “transformative changes ” both at the conceptual (new models of education, advancement of theories of social learning) and technological levels (eLearning, mobile devices, learning networks) because of upheavals globally, socially, politically, and technologically. Likewise, entrepreneurship education has advanced as a means to educate the new 21st Century workforce by giving them the skills to take any area of study or discipline and be creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial. Through entrepreneurship education, flexibility, adaptability, and resilience are taught and applied so that success can be achieved as workforce demands change over time. Online opportunities in entrepreneurship education are leading to increased educational