"We are committed to providing innovative educational opportunities to our clients through programs such as Dbriefs webcasts, live events, and Deloitte University itself," said Jonathan Copulsky, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP and director of Deloitte's Brand & Eminence group. "The MOOC offers a new hybrid: the ability to interact and collaborate with the instructor and participants worldwide, while viewing high-quality content from the convenience of their own office.

"The potential to reach a broad population, from business leaders and managers to educators and students, is an exciting prospect. We believe courses like this can help spark a dialogue around important trends in the marketplace," added Copulsky.

Deloitte University Press developed the MOOC in collaboration with America Makes, 3D Systems, Marquette University, and the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

"This course is uniquely valuable because it explores the business considerations for additive manufacturing," said Mike Hripko, deputy director of workforce and educational outreach, America Makes. "During this course, participants will learn how 3D printing could impact their business, which sectors are leading in the use of the technology, and what factors they should consider when building a business case for additive manufacturing."

About the course

3D Opportunity explores the business drivers of additive manufacturing and is relevant for anyone involved with strategy, supply chain, operations, R&D, manufacturing, and product development. Mark Cotteleer, a research director with Deloitte Services LP and former business-school professor at Marquette University and the University of Chicago, is teaching the course. Cotteleer will be joined by specialists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and America Makes during the course. Deloitte University Press also collaborated with 3D Systems for the MOOC.

The MOOC comprises 26 mini-lectures organized into five modules and featuring high-quality video lectures, motion graphics, and assessments. Most lectures are between five and seven minutes in length. Short lecture quizzes will be used to help students assess their retention of the material. To deepen their understanding and further explore how additive manufacturing applies to their own organizations, students can optionally perform "take-home" assignments that will be evaluated by peers taking the course.

Participants who complete the course and receive seventy percent or better on the module-ending quizzes will receive a certificate of completion. 3D Opportunity is free and open to the public and will be available through 08 August. The course began on 14 July, but registration is still open.