Massive open online courses (MOOCs) can be critical in bridging the global knowledge divide. However, the promise of MOOCs has remained largely unfulfilled, mainly because of the global digital divide. The closure of schools following the COVID-19 pandemic has reignited interest in MOOCs, with many innovative solutions emerging worldwide. We offer a strong rationale and propose specific measures for national governments and the Group of Twenty (G20) to scale up the uptake of MOOCs— these include investment in infrastructure to adapt globally, and develop indigenous MOOCs in low- and middle-income countries; G20 funding for large-scale infrastructure initiatives in least developed countries; leveraging the deep penetration of mobile technology in developing countries; and expanded funding for UNESCO.
