1) The MOOC@TU9 project involved a joint MOOC produced by 9 leading technical universities in Germany (TU9) to promote engineering degrees and attract international students. 2) The inaugural MOOC on "German Engineering" had over 1,300 participants from over 80 countries. It consisted of 9 weekly lectures delivered live by professors from the TU9 universities. 3) While the MOOC was helpful for study orientation, its dual focus on teaching and marketing weakened its course character. Going forward, the TU9 universities will produce more specialized engineering MOOCs and separate the guidance and marketing components.

1. Massive Open Online Courses as a Tool for
International University Marketing and
Study Guidance:
The Example of MOOC@TU9
NAFSA 67th Annual Conference
Breakfast-Reception
28-May-2015, Boston, MA
Presenter: Dr. Daniela Pscheida, TU Dresden, Germany

2. Your connection to MOOCs…
Heard?
Tried?
Made?
h"ps://www.flickr.com/photos/hikingar4st/5726798581/

3. What does MOOC mean…
Massive
Course
Online
Open

4. Facing the MOOC-Hype...
MOOCs: Gartner Hype Cycle
http://blogs.cetis.ac.uk/cetisli/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2013/06/untitled.png

5. Potential of MOOCs for universities
• Refreshing of the e-learning topic at universities
• Open-up university education:
• New target groups
• Internationalization
• Improve flexibility of university teaching and services:
• Supporting local lectures
• and: Student counseling and study guidance
• Marketing (national and international)
• Encourage cooperation and strategy development across universities

6. TU9 – Alliance of leading Institutes of Technology
in Germany

7. TU9 – Alliance of leading Institutes of Technology
in Germany
Common interest in:
• further strengthening the quality of
engineering courses
• the improvement of their good
international reputation
• to recruit appropriate and especially
promising international students

8. How to call the attention of
INTERNATIONAL TALENTS
to the wide range of
STEM SUBJECTS
and win them for
STUDY AT TU9 UNIVERSITIES?

9. Project MOOC@TU9
• Joint production of (a)
MOOC(s) on ‘German Engineering’
• to show quality, diversity and prospects
of an engineering degree in Germany
• with a mixture of marketing, self-
assessment and academic advising
• directed by the TU9 vice-rectors and
vice-presidents for studies and teaching
• implemented by an editorial team with
contacts at all locations
• and financial participation of the
partner universities to equal parts.
Credits: TU Braunschweig/Marek Kruszewski

10. 1. Entrepreneurship
2. Civil
Engineering
3. Digital
Engineering
4. Mechanical and
Electrical
Engineering
5. Material
Engineering
6. Future Building
7. Mobility
8. Robotics
9. Satellites and
Space Systems
Lecture Series
„German Engineering“
9 weeks
(20.10.-21.12.14)
21 renowned
Professors
Course contents and concept
Weekly tasks
Forum Discussions
Interview
Lecture
Videos
Chat
Live-Sessions
Conclusions
Statement of Accomplishment

11. Course week
Saturday/Sunday
Submission of weekly tasks
Weekly summary
Weekly evaluation
Tuesday-Friday
View recordings
Forum discussions
Work on weekly tasks
(choice of 2-3 tasks/week)
Monday
Interactive, 90 min.
live session on YouTube
2-4 profs from TU9
moderator

12. Open course page (Wordpress) Live sessions via Google Hangout
http://mooc.tu9.de as live-stream/recording on YouTube
IRC-Chat
Google
Hangout
Technical-
Coordination
Live-Stream
Infrastructure

13. Facts and figures
• 1.328 registered participants from more than 80 countries worldwide, mainly
from Asia (34%) and Europe (34%) and Latin America (16%); 65% students
• 8.800 watches of the recordings on YouTube channel
• 318 submitted weekly tasks, 30 statements of accomplishment
• Selective participation.......................
• Main focus on live sessions (80%),
weekly tasks (38%), exchange (24%)
• Main interests: Study possibilities in
engineering sciences (72%) and get
to know TU9 universities
whole
course
20%
8
weeks
13%
7
weeks
9%
6
weeks
7%
5
weeks
7%
4
weeks
20%
3
weeks
9%
2
weeks
9%
1
week
4%
k.A.
2%
Did
you
take
part
in
the
whole
course
or
only
individual
weeks
(n=55)?

14. Interim conclusion and lessons learned
• The inter-university cooperation creates valuable synergies, such as joint
building experiences and standards.
• From the participants perspective such an offer is helpful for the personal
study orientation (80% found the course helpful or partly helpful for their
own decision making, 94% would recommend to others).
• The project received a very positive public reception, e.g. Award in the
university competition „MINTernational Digital“ (Stifterverband)
• BUT: Using the MOOC format as a tool for student counseling and study
guidance shifts the focus from teaching and learning to information und
orientation. This weakens the course character and might lead to goal
conflicts.
• That’s why we have been working on re-structuring our concept…

15. Future plans... Three good news for you
1. Recordings and all course materials of the teaser MOOC “Discover Excellence in
Engineering and the Natural Sciences – Made in Germany” are
still available via http://mooc.tu9.de
2. The TU9 universities will continue their cooperation in the context of
MOOC@TU9. Exclusive and specialized courses in the subject area of engineering
sciences will be available from the end of this year.
3. You have the option to sign up for a newsletter to stay informed about the latest
developments.

16. Thank you for your attention!
Interested? Join us!
Course: http://mooc.tu9.de
Twitter: @mooctu9
eMail: mooc@tu9.de