MOOCs do not automatically imply a better access to the higher education system. Without any formal credits for MOOC completion, MOOCs are just in-/nonformal learning. Moreover, access to higher education system requires in addition that those credits do count as part of a formal degree. Gradually we see a shift from producing MOOCs based on regular courses to a mode where open education offering is becoming a part of formal degrees (for example with Micromasters and Nanodegrees).
Recognition of MOOC credits is for some part hindered by the lack of adequate legislation for regulating open and online education, both by HEI and by regulations regarding national accreditation. Next recognition requires trust between HEIs about the quality of MOOCs offered. Quality Assurance ranges from systems which check compliance to norms and standards, to systems that aim at quality enhancement by focusing on (institutional) process. This panel will reflect and discuss on these Quality assurance and recognition of MOOCs issues.
