There are now 50 degree programs available from MOOC providers like FutureLearn, Coursera and EdX and they each intend to grow this component of their activities - it is a significant source of revenue for these organizations. Others have moved into the assessment only qualifications space - offering competency based assessments leading to qualifications, including professional degrees. The University of Wisconsin and Western Governors University are amongst the six or seven making this offer as "flex" degrees. This is part of broader movement, which you allude to, of offering micro-credentials for upskilling and reskilling. A number of Canadian colleges and universities are offering such credentials. e-Campus Ontario lists some of the projects they have been enabling here. As we outlined in a paper share recently on teachonline.ca (https://teachonline.ca/sites/default/files/tools-trends/downloads/preparing_for_a_different_future_-_learning_in_an_age_of_disruption4.pdf) the development of MOOC based credentials and micro-credentials are disruptive elements of the future of higher education, but there are others. As higher education policy makers and administrators begin to look at the post-COVID-19 world, they will be exploring new ways of working and new opportunities in the market, especially if (as anticipated) the number of international students registering in Canadian institutions falls dramatically. We can expect to see a number of innovations - new approaches to apprenticeship and trades education, the growth of modular and stackable credentials, assessment only credentials and 365 admission for certain high demand short courses.
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