MOOCs, Graduate Skills Gaps, and Employability: A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Literature

The increasing costs of higher education (HE), growing numbers of flexible anytime, anywhere learners, and the prevalence of technology as a means to up-skill in a competitive job market, have brought to light a rising concern faced by graduate students and potential graduate employers.  Specifically, there is a mismatch of useful skills obtained by students through HE institutions which is evident upon graduation.  Faced with this dilemma, “graduate students,” or more specifically newly graduated students, with a with bachelor’s degree, and a growing number of employers are turning to Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, as a complimentary mechanism through which this skills gap may be bridged. More...