China's Outward-oriented Internationalization Pathways to Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs)

Abstract

MOOCs' outward-oriented internationalization is significant in higher education and international diplomacy. In higher education, MOOCs serve as educational products to provide for global learners, thereby enhancing the international reputation of the institutions that provide high-quality MOOCs. Regarding international diplomacy, MOOCs can serve as a digital diplomatic tool to promote Chinese culture and as international public goods free to global learners, showcasing a responsible China's image. China is exploring the pathway to outward-oriented internationalization of MOOCs for the global promotion of these courses. MOOCs' outward-oriented internationalization needs to initially remove language barriers. On this basis, MOOCs for different disciplines should be provided. China mainly adopts three pathways to pursue the outward-oriented internationalization of MOOCs: offering MOOCs and accompanying platforms for introducing Chinese language and culture to foreign learners, provision of Chinese universities' MOOCs on overseas platforms, and internationalization of Chinese all-discipline MOOC platforms.