Latest news from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ

8 Oct 2014

Second run for hugely successful Innovation and Enterprise MOOC

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s award-winning free MOOC (massive open online course) in Innovation and Enterprise is to be run for a second time starting later this month.

Offered as part of FutureLearn, the first UK-led provider of MOOCs, the course enables students to find out more about entrepreneurs and innovators, how to spot opportunities and transform bright ideas into something tangible. It is aimed primarily at foundation- and undergraduate-level students.

The course will begin on 20 October and will last for six weeks. It is delivered through º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Glendonbrook Centre for Enterprise Education within the School of Business and Economics.

The course, which was initially run in April this year, proved hugely popular, attracting more than 13,000 students.

Dr Julie Holland, Director of the Glendonbrook Centre for Enterprise Education and programme director for the MOOC, said: “When we launched in the spring, we were thrilled by how many registrations we had. Learners came from 137 countries, and a number of our own students took part in their spare time. 

“As a result of their positive experience, we won the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Academic Award for e-learning. Our MOOC project was also nominated for the National Enterprise Educators Award at the 2014 International Entrepreneurship Educators Conference.”

Following the overwhelmingly positive feedback from students on the inaugural course, the delivery format and objectives for its second iteration remain largely unchanged. However a Google Hangout has been introduced in week five, to allow students to ask questions about funding issues for entrepreneurs.

FutureLearn courses centre on social interaction, engaging students in conversations around the learning material. The website is designed to work on smartphones and tablets, as well as desktop computers, so that learners can access the material easily, regardless of their location. 

Phil Wilkinson-Blake, Director of IT and e-Learning and FutureLearn Project Leader for º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ, said: “The University's commitment to delivering high-quality online learning has been demonstrated through the Innovation and Enterprise MOOC and will continue to raise our profile globally. Our partnership with FutureLearn has ensured that our online teaching is delivered on a high-profile platform with excellent technical support.”

To view the course trailer and sign up online, go to the º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ Futurelearn website.

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/180

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is ranked in the top fifteen of UK universities and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

Contact for all media enquiries

Hannah Baldwin
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º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ
T: 01509 222239
E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk