“In total, we have probably spent 8,000 hours preparing and producing the course,” says Anamaria Dutceac Segesten, currently senior lecturer in European Studies and deputy dean of the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology. For more than four years, she has also been a course coordinator for the ‘AI, business and the future of work’ MOOC. So far, over 78,000 people have taken the course organised in collaboration with AI Lund. This makes it one of the most successful MOOCs at the University and the top-ranking university-run MOOC on the theme on the Coursera platform.
Recorded lectures
The course is made up of modules consisting of recorded lectures and interviews with researchers and external entrepreneurs who talk about their experiences of using AI in their business.
“We cater to anyone who is curious about AI. The main question is what should I consider if I want to use AI in my business? The goal is for participants to become ambassadors for AI transformation in their workplaces,” explains Anamaria Dutceac Segesten.
Standout statistics
The MOOC stands out in the statistics as 40 per cent complete the entire course. The figure is unusually high for MOOCs, according to Anamaria Dutceac Segesten. She believes this success is due to several factors. The high level of production is one. The material was recorded in a professional studio and before the recordings she spent a lot of time familiarising herself with how best to achieve a high standard of education when teaching online. The lectures are 7-8 minutes long, the camera changes angle frequently, and particularly important words and concepts are highlighted in text form on the screen – all to avoid the material becoming too monotonous.
There is no financial gain for LU as participation is free of charge. But Anamaria Dutceac Segesten sees other benefits.
“We raise our profile in terms of knowledge dissemination and this plays a role in our global engagement as we showcase Swedish research and entrepreneurial expertise worldwide.”
Are there any drawbacks?
“MOOCs are expensive – not only in terms of money but also time. They take much longer to prepare than a standard course. Production costs are also very high.”
However, she advises others who are thinking of launching their own MOOC to take the plunge.
“The most enjoyable aspect is the feeling that I have done my job as a lecturer. Our reach is wide and we have provided useful knowledge to many. Through the MOOC, we have educated more people than I will ever do through standard courses in my entire career.”
The text is a translation and republication from LUM 2024:4.
