Marketing micro-credentials: understanding learners' engagement and willingness to pay more
International Journal of Educational Management
ISSN: 0951-354X
Article publication date: 23 October 2023
Issue publication date: 25 June 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Digitalisation is reshaping the learning process, shifting it towards personalisation and online learning, and fuelling the growth of massive open online courses (MOOCs) and micro-credentials. Despite being a popular global trend, limited studies have looked at micro-credentials and their impact on learners' behavioural outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of programme design factors on learning experience, as well as the inter-relationships between programme design, learning experience and behavioural responses (e.g. engagement and willingness to pay more (WTPM)) towards micro-credentials. In addition, the study aims to investigate learning enjoyment as a moderator.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 354 respondents who are working adults living in the major economic states in Malaysia. Data analysis was performed using the analysis of a moment structures (AMOS) statistical software and SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) PROCESS macro.
Findings
The results show the significance of programme design factors (i.e., flexibility, system quality and content quality) in determining the learning experience. The learning experience is found as a mediator in the relationship between programme design factors and learner engagement and WTPM. In addition, the moderation assessment confirms that enjoyment during learning strengthens the relationship between experience and behavioural responses.
Originality/value
This study is amongst a few selected studies that focus on engagement in and WTPM for micro-credentials. In addition, it emphasises the mediating role of the learning experience and the moderating role of enjoyment in understanding the impact of programme design on learners' experiences and behavioural responses.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper forms part of a special section “Micro-credential as a Digital Enabler for Higher Education Ecosystems”, guest edited by Muhammad Ali, Syed Ali Raza, Chin Hong Puah and Wasim Qazi.
Citation
Tee, P.K., Cham, T.-H., Aw, E.C.-X., Khudaykulov, A. and Zhang, X. (2024), "Marketing micro-credentials: understanding learners' engagement and willingness to pay more", International Journal of Educational Management, Vol. 38 No. 4, pp. 1001-1020. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-03-2023-0096
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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