The Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has said it will offer a free online course, open to anyone, on the super-material graphene starting next year.
According to a press release sent out on Friday, as of the beginning of 2015, Chalmers University of Technology will start its first mooc - massive open online course - free of charge and accessible to anyone with a computer.
The first course to be offered is "Introduction to Graphene Science and Technology." The subject of graphene - a pure, very strong, lightweight carbon similar to graphite - is at the forefront of a European Union research initiative based at Chalmers University.
Course content will be showcased in short video clips of five to seven minutes each.
"This is a new and different way for us to take on the role of knowledge disseminator in our society," Maria Knutson Wedel, vice president for undergraduate and master's education at Chalmers was quoted as saying.
With a computer and an Internet connection, course participants all over the world can watch video lectures, take part in discussions, do assignments and take exams, the release said.
"Previously, we have primarily shared knowledge on a local and national level. The technology today enables global knowledge sharing; we can reach people who need the knowledge in question no matter where they are located in the world," said Wedel.
She believes that moocs can be very useful as supplementary or continuing professional development for people who in the working world, as this type of education also results in a degree and a title, something which companies consider when hiring.
The next mooc in line after the course on graphene will be on sustainability in everyday life, starting in May 2015.