“The Bay of Naples with Vesuvius in the Background” c. 1872 | Oswald Achenbach
The MOOC BA, a New Frontier for Internationalization
Abstract. The early attraction of MOOCs was global reach and global branding to bolster university reputation and increase student enrollments from home and abroad, leading to a scenario marked by high numbers of HE Institutions with a low number of high-investment MOOCs. Recent emerging trends show a move towards online degrees, essentially postgraduate, which involves the big MOOC providers and universities positioning themselves to capture a growing market of lifelong learners through a broader portfolio of diversified credentials. The core business of curricular education verified by a degree, however, is only just being touched by the MOOC revolution, with very few – though significant – experiences. This paper proposes a policy framework for a MOOC strategy for bachelors degrees at the University of Naples, Federico II, which encompasses policy issues regarding funding, organization and governance.
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Aperçu | Whatever Happened to MOOCs?
The massive open online courses that promised to transform higher education during the 2010s have not disappeared. They have evolved into a global market for professional certificates, microcredentials and online degrees. Coursera alone reported approximately 197 million registered learners at the end of 2025. Yet the original promise of universally free university education has given way to subscription services and paid credentials. The University of Naples Federico II was among the European institutions exploring how online instruction could extend the international reach of higher education. A decade later, the distinction between exporting instruction and exporting the residential university remains important. Digital platforms can transmit knowledge across national borders without requiring the migration of students or the construction of additional campus infrastructure.
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