Assessment Future Evolution of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): SWOT Analysis (Global and Regional Measuring)

Introduction. Digital technologies contribute to the rapid development of communications in various spheres of society. However, MOOCs, despite being a young and exciting phenomenon, have both positive and negative aspects. The purpose of the article is to study and analyze the phenomenon of MOOCs in its global and regional dimensions, and assessment their future evolution, identifying the strengths and weaknesses in their development, especially for the development of regional education systems. Materials and Methods. Theoretical research is carried out in the context of a systematic approach to maximize the study of all the features and patterns of the phenomenon under study, which is a system. The research methodology used is SWOT analysis, which helps to identify the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities, and threats for the future of higher education. The method helped to identify, on the one hand, the positive and negative aspects of the development of massive open online courses of the MOOC, on the other, to identify the opportunities and threats of online learning systems for the future development of higher education (global and regional levels). Results. The authors show that open online courses are an important addition to traditional university education, built on the basis of common forms, but working within the framework of a regional dimension. They allow you to increase the level of knowledge and competencies in various industries and beyond territorial borders by building specific online communities). However, the authors also show that this open communication system is considered by many of its participants not as a specific addition to the traditional one, but as its real alternative. The main results of the study is the identification of hidden and unexpressed weaknesses in the MOOC system. Instead of the expected democratization of education and enlightenment, if the existing threats are underestimated, it may lead to degradation and a new phase of the global educational crisis. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the fact that the phenomenon of MOOCs is still young and has been poorly studied in scientific literature. Discussion and Conclusion. In conclusion, the authors summarize the specifics of the manifestations of an open system of knowledge communication (its global and regional dimensions). The practical significance of this study of the authors lies in the analysis and generalization of the problems of the development of online education. This article will be useful for anyone interested in research issues of theoretical and practical aspects of the modern education system development (both regional and global levels of its formation).