MOOCs received a lot of attention. They were seen as transformative and a terrific opportunity to fundamentally re-think issues of access and affordability, but have they opened up higher education and changed access for a great many people? What is the trajectory of MOOCs now? Will they live up to the promise which many (often non-educational policy makers and specialists) had for them as "agents" of transformation? How do MOOCs and the open education resources (OER) movement connect?

These and other questions provide the back-story for this collection of insightful and useful materials._ MOOCs and Open Education Around the World_ examines and seeks to understand the unique implementations of MOOCs and open education across regions and nations. The book also examines the various opportunities which MOOCs now suggest - nano-degrees and qualifications, for examples - as well as the dilemmas presented in this rapidly evolving age of technology-enabled learning. This edited collection explains MOOCs and open education trends and issues in a variety of contexts, shares key research findings, and provides practical suggestions and recommendations for the near future. A must read for policy makers and those engaged in educational innovation.

If this book is of interest, you may also want to look at Hayes, S. (2015) MOOCs and Quality: A Review of the Recent Literature. London: Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. While MOOCs, coupled with systematic assessment, could address affordability and access issues, issues of quality remain. This paper reviews the research and issues and is a focused, excellent analysis. It is available here: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/MOOCs-and-Quality-Literat...