International Development: Barriers and Possibilities of E-Learning and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) for Higher Education in Developing Countrie

This thesis focuses on International Development and online learning. In recent years, there have been many efforts to ensure primary, secondary and postsecondary education in developing countries. These efforts have been led by the United Nations (UN), first with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2000, and most recently, with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. These goals, particularly the former, did not progress fast enough, and many students in developing countries remain without access to high quality education. Ensuring primary and secondary education in developing countries is a strong focus for the UN, but higher education is just as important in ensuring lasting change in developing regions.;Online learning, a new way to learn, has gained significant traction since the widespread adoption of the internet in the new millennium. Two popular ways of learning on the internet are e-learning and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). Online learning presents a unique opportunity to replace traditional classroom learning and provide access to high-quality education to people regardless of their location. Modern forms of online learning such as MOOCs present an opportunity for developing countries to "leapfrog" in education in a similar way as cellular phones leapfrogged land lines in most developing countries.;Developing countries still lag behind in terms of internet usage and access to infrastructure. In most developing countries, infrastructure is decent in large metropolitan areas, but very limited in surrounding areas. Internet usage and accessibility are two imperatives for online learning to establish a strong presence in developing countries. Aside from internet-related issues, most MOOC content is created in English and therefore tailored to a western audience. Since most MOOCs are for-profit organizations, there are often strict reuse policies on their content, which make it difficult for educators and governments in developing countries to customize content. Other important barriers in developing countries include political instability, students willingness to learn, quality of educators and lack of national support for modern ways to learn.;Barriers to successful penetration of online learning in developing countries are indicative of the necessary steps to be taken on the road to success. First, local governments and humanitarian organizations need to improve internet infrastructure, adoption, and acceptance in developing countries. Second, MOOC providers should have less strict reuse policies for developing countries and empower instructors in developing countries with the tools and knowledge required to create content for local audiences. Third, partnerships between international organizations and large MOOC providers are the fastest way to ensure high quality post-secondary education in developing countries. One such partnership is the Open Learning campus established between Coursera, one of the top MOOC providers, and the World Bank.