More than 33,000 people from 192 countries across the world have enrolled in the University of Oxford’s first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) led by Professor Paul Collier from the Blavatnik School of Government.
The course, “From Poverty to Prosperity: Understanding Economic Development”, which is offered on edx.org, examines the vital role of government and the key political, social, and economic processes that elevate any society from poverty to prosperity.
While the United Kingdom and the USA represent the largest number of learners who have registered for the course, countries such as India, Mexico, and Thailand rank 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively, with more than 1,000 learners each; other countries such as Peru, Turkey, Nigeria, Zambia, Mongolia and Iran also rank highly, each providing hundreds of learners.
Professor Paul Collier, Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Blavatnik School, and convenor of the course, said: “All societies need a critical mass of well-informed citizens who understand key issues. That so many people from around the world have enrolled in this course demonstrate the strong appetite for that understanding.”
Other interesting figures about the pool of learners so far:
- 42.8% female; 56.7% male
- Median age is 30 years (31% under 25; 50% from 26 to 40; 19% 41 and over)
- 18% high school diploma or less, 44% college degree, 36% advanced degree.
Beginning on 21 February 2017, the course will support learners in developing a better understanding of how their communities, regions and countries can flourish.
The course is part of a new partnership between the University of Oxford and edX, the leading non-profit online learning destination. Enrolment is open now and the course starts on 21 February. The course is free, requires no specific qualifications and is open to everyone, anywhere in the world.
