MIT announces a new micromasters, in statistics and data science via edX. Cost is US$1350 for four units, which can count for credit in the Institute’s PhD in social and engineering systems.

MIT says that “is a very accessible price,” (since when did the Massachusetts Institute of Technology sell on price?) and not just there. The new course is also accepted for credit by Curtin U, Deakin U and RMIT. Other MIT micromasters can count for 25 per cent credit to Curtin masters degrees.

This is a great way for Australian universities to associate themselves with one of the strongest brands in tech ed. It is also a brilliant strategy to expand their sales base and an essential defence for a world where people assemble their own customised skill suite of MOOCs and record their achievements on blockchains.