Career Self-Management at Scale: Lessons From a MOOC Specialization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33423/f4017931Keywords:
management, career self-management, distance education, online learning, Coursera, MOOC, skills management, management educationAbstract
The Career Self-Management specialization offered on Coursera between 2016–2024 taught working professionals to apply strategic management and marketing tools to their own career development. Drawing on platform analytics and learner surveys, this study examines the specialization’ s design, production, enrollment patterns, learner motivations, perceived skill development, and course satisfaction. The program reached more than 120,000 learners worldwide and generated sustained engagement across diverse cohorts. Findings suggest that management-oriented MOOCs function less as traditional credentialing pathways and more as flexible, modular tools for lifelong learning, career adaptation, and workforce resilience during periods of labor market change. Learner outcomes varied systematically by motivation, demographics, and course design features, underscoring the importance of applied assessments and clear instructional scaffolding. We document the substantial fixed costs and ongoing institutional commitments required to sustain high-quality MOOCs. The study contributes rare creator-side evidence on the pedagogy, economics, and long-term sustainability of large-scale online management education.
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