Digital Entrepreneurship: MOOCs in Entrepreneurship Education the Case of Graz University of Technology

Abstract

Digital Entrepreneurship has gained substantial attention in theory and practice in the last years. In addition, new technological as well as pedagogical approaches have emerged. A special focus is set on massive open online courses (MOOCs) in entrepreneurship education. MOOCs are one of the strongest trends in online education and influence the content and procedure of teaching and learning. The paper contributes to a better understanding of necessary capabilities, chances and risks of using MOOCs as a new way of teaching entrepreneurship for engineers at Graz University of Technology. It empirically investigates challenges and drivers for using MOOCs as a novel pedagogical concept. Results show that a lack of self-discipline to finish a MOOC as well as missing interaction with others are main hurdles compared to lectures with compulsory attendance at University. However, findings also reveal that MOOCs are flexible in terms of time and location, thus can add convenience in reaching education, particularly entrepreneurial education.