Business of Mining MOOC top of its global class

The Business of Mining, a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) developed in Western Australia, has topped the 2015 Interactive Media Awards in the US. The course was named Best In Class in the university category of the Interactive Media Awards, rated on design, content, functionality and standards compliance.

Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Marmion said the success of the course reflected Western Australia’s capacity for innovation and helped promote the State’s mining and education excellence worldwide.

“Resources and education services are both important exports,” Mr Marmion said. “I congratulate Curtin University’s WA School of Mines, the Curtin Business School and the industry and State Government experts who contributed to the course.”

Launched in July 2015, the course’s four online modules provide a high-level introduction to the resources sector for non-operational staff, government employees, suppliers and contractors. So far, more than 1,100 students from almost 170 nations have completed the course, with top participation from the US (14%), Australia (13%) and India (8%). The course will continue running through 2016.

“The Business of Mining is a product of Curtin’s partnership with the acclaimed edX education platform (a non-profit initiative founded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University), and plays an important role in promoting WA as the best place in the world to do mining business,” the Minister said. “Student feedback has been excellent, with well over double the average completion rate for similar online courses.”

The course is available at: https://www.edx.org/course/business-mining-curtinx-tbomx