MOOCs and upskilling in Australia: A qualitative literature study

Figures & data

Figure 1. On overview of the systematic review process adopted by the authors to determine which articles were included in the final data set.

Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion	Exclusion
Article was original qualitative research	Does not relate specifically to MOOCs and skills
Article was peer-reviewed	Studies that pre-dated 2013 and post-dated 2017
Report was from industry or government	Studies written in a language other than English
Article was published in a HE website	Does not describe MOOCs in Australia
Use of MOOCs in higher education	Does not focus on MOOCs for upskilling
Use of MOOCs in industry	Does duplicate previous findings
Use of MOOCs in the workforce
Use of MOOCs for professional development

Table 2. Inclusion/exclusion criteria for each of the 19 articles used in the systematic review

Author	Inclusion criteria	Theme
Fraser and Ryan (2013)	3, 5, 6, 8	Flexibility, Workforce training
Australian Trade Commission (2013)	3, 5, 6, 7	Formal qualifications—credentials, “Rebundling”, Affordability and cost reduction
Barnes (2013)	1, 2, 6, 7, 8	Scale, Librarian roles, Skills development
Fitzgibbons and Kelly (2013)	1, 2, 6, 7, 8	Continuing Professional Development (CPD), MOOCs as supplement
Freeman and Hancock (2013)	1, 2, 5, 8	Pathway into profession, Flexibility, Lifelong learning, Recognition of skills development
Vivian, Falkner, and Falkner (2014)	1, 2, 5, 8	CPD for teachers, Flexibility, Curriculum
McKay (2015)	1, 2, 5, 6	Flexibility, Professional skills development
Lambert and Alony (2015)	1, 5	Skills gaps, Self-paced resource, Scaffolding learning, Staff engagement, Customisability, Flexibility
Alony et al. (2015)	1, 2, 5, 8	CPD for academic staff, Workforce training, Capacity-building
Australian Computer Society (2016)	3, 7, 8	CPD (Information and Communications Technology/ICT)
Bliemel et al. (2016)	1, 2, 5, 6	Flexibility, Business Skills development
Davidson (2016)	3, 6, 7, 8	CPD, Flexibility, Formal qualifications—credentials, Workforce Training, Affordability
Hajkowicz et al. (2016)	3, 6, 7. 8	University’s role/impact on Universities, Complement to University education, Flexibility, Affordability, MOOCSs for disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds
Ryan, Horton-Tognazzini, and Williams (2016)	3, 5, 6, 7, 8	CPD, Flexibility, Workforce training
Dodd (2017)	4, 5	Flexibility, Formal qualifications—credentials, On-demand learning, Fast-changing workplace, University’s role/impact on Universities
Ng and McRae (2017)	1, 2, 5	Formal qualifications—credentials
Australian Government Productivity Commission (2017)	3, 7, 8	Flexibility, Affordability, Lifelong learning, Workforce training
Riley (2017)	1, 2, 5, 6	Flexibility, Formal qualifications—credentials, MOOCs’ role in overcrowded markets, Supplemental training
Opray (2017)	4, 8	Lifelong learning, On-demand learning, Skills development, Workforce training post-graduation

Table 3. MOOCs and upskilling: the Australian context sources for systematic review

Author (s)	Date of publication	Article Title	Source	Article type	Themes
Fraser and Ryan (2013)	2013	Could MOOCs answer the problems of teaching AQF required skills in Australian tertiary programmes?	The Australian Universities’ Review	Review/Report	Flexibility Workforce training
Australian Trade Commission (2013)	2013	More than MOOCS: Opportunities arising from disruptive technologies in education	Australian Trade Commission	Report	Formal qualifications—credentials “Rebundling” Affordability and cost reduction
Barnes (2013)	2013	MOOCs: The Challenges for Academic Librarians	Australian Academic & research Libraries	Research article	Scale Librarian roles Skills development
Fitzgibbons and Kelly (2013)	2013	MOOCs as online professional development for law librarians	Australian Law Librarian	Research article	Continuing Professional Development (CPD) MOOCs as supplement
Freeman and Hancock (2013)	2013	Milking MOOCs: Towards the right blend in accounting education.(pp.86–100)	The Virtual University: Impact on Australian Accounting and Business Education, part B	Research article	Pathway into profession Flexibility Lifelong learning Recognition of skills development
Vivian et al. (2014)	2014	Addressing the challenges of a new digital technologies curriculum: MOOCs as a scalable solution for teacher professional development	Taylor & Francis Online	Research article	CPD for teachers Flexibility Curriculum
McKay (2015)	2015	Macro-Level Learning through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): Strategies and Predictions for the Future	IGI Global	Book	Flexibility Professional skills development
Lambert and Alony (2015)	2015	Embedding MOOCs in academic programs as a part of curriculum transformation: a pilot case study	University of Wollongong Research Online	Descriptive/exploratory research with small-scale pilot	Skills gaps Self-paced resource Scaffolding learning Staff engagement Customisability Flexibility
Alony et al. (2015)	2015	MOOCs’ contribution to staff development and capacity building: Australian University Case study	University of Wollongong Research Online	Exploratory research article	CPD for academic staff Workforce training Capacity-building
Australian Computer Society (2016)	2016	Australia’s Digital Pulse Developing the digital workforce to drive growth in the future	Deloitte Access Economics (DAE) Report	Report	CPD (Information and Communications Technology/ICT)
Bliemel et al. (2016)	2016	The role and performance of accelerators in the Australian start up ecosystem	UNSW Business School	Research Paper	Flexibility Business Skills development
Davidson (2016)	2016	Future Tensions in Professional Associations (pp.79–83)	Relevance and Professional Associations in 2026. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand	Report	CPD Flexibility Formal qualifications—credentials Workforce Training Affordability
Hajkowicz et al. (2016)	2016	Tomorrow’s Digitally Enabled Workforce. Megatrends and scenarios for jobs and employment in Australia over the coming twenty years.	Australian Policy Online	Report	University’s role/impact on Universities Complement to University education Flexibility Affordability MOOCSs for disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds
Ryan et al. (2016)	2016	A Snapshot of MOOCs in Hospitality and Tourism	Australian School of Management	Report	CPD Flexibility Workforce training
Dodd (2017)	2017	Massive Online Open Courses are back and they’re threatening universities	Financial Review, Business Education (online) pages	Media Article	Flexibility Formal qualifications—credentials On-demand learning Fast-changing workplace University’s role/impact on Universities
Ng and McRae (2017)	2017	Chapter 5: MOOCs for credit. Making the idea work.	Taylor & Francis	Book Chapter	Formal qualifications—credentials
Australian Government Productivity Commission (2017)	2017	Chapter 3: Upskilling and Retraining, Shifting the Dial.	Productivity Commission Australian Government	Report	Flexibility Affordability Lifelong learning Workforce training
Riley (2017)	2017	Chapter 14: The Challenge of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) to Traditional Legal Education: The Australian Experience.	Taylor & Francis	Book Chapter	Flexibility Formal qualifications—credentials MOOCs’ role in overcrowded markets Supplemental training
Opray (2017)	2017	Seventeen jobs, five careers: learning in the age of automation	The Guardian	Media Article	Lifelong learning On-demand learning Skills development Workforce training post-graduation

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