The first massive open online course (MOOC) developed by the University of Macau (UM) will be launched on a MOOC platform on 26 September. Titled ‘Creativity’, the free online course aims to help learners develop creative thinking skills through a combination of short lecture videos, multiple choice questions, online and offline communication, and interactive learning activities. The course is free. Everyone is welcome to attend.

As traditional industries continue to decline, knowledge- and skill-based jobs are gradually being taken up by artificial intelligence and robots, with experts predicting that this trend will only intensify. There is therefore a pressing need for universities to produce graduates with creativity, critical thinking skills, leadership skills, collaborative skills, and other practical skills needed to meet the challenges of the new century. UM’s first MOOC ‘Creativity’ teaches the principles, types, and techniques of creative thinking through mini-lectures in an interactive manner that allows the learners to immediately put what they learn into practice.

Instructors of this MOOC are Prof Katrine Wong from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Prof Michael Li from the Faculty of Education, and Prof Davood Gozli from the Faculty of Social Sciences. They will guide learners through a challenging yet fun learning process. This course promises to nurture creativity as an ability to transform the ordinary into extraordinary and help learners see and hear differently.

The course will be launched on 26 September, and will conclude on 4 November. It takes about three hours per week to complete the course. Those who are interested should visit http://www.xuetangx.com/courses/course-v1:UMX+CRT101+2018_T4/about for registration.