Table 5.

Thematic analysis of open-ended responses—applied value

Positive/negative	Theme	Description	Quote example
Positive	Professional Development	Participants benefited in their professional roles, gaining new knowledge and skills.	Gave me insight into EVs and also some of the people/companies working in that space.
	Learning and Education benefits	Participants highlighted the value of learning and education from the courses.	The abundance of study materials and lecture videos have given me a very good learning experience and understanding complex topics in a detailed and fun way.
	Personal Growth	Participants experienced personal growth and development through the courses.	To plan my time properly between work, personal life and school.
	Innovation and Inspiration	Participants mentioned gaining new ideas, perspectives, and inspiration from the courses.	TU Delft MOOCs often cover cutting-edge topics and research findings in various fields. By participating in these courses, you expose yourself to new ideas and perspectives that can inspire innovation and creativity in your academic or professional endeavors. Whether it’s learning about emerging technologies, novel theories, or innovative solutions to real-world problems, these insights can broaden your thinking and challenge conventional wisdom.
Negative	No Impact on Professional Development	Participants did not find direct impact on their professional practices or studies.	Participation didn’t directly impact my practices as a student or professional because I haven’t actively engaged with the resources provided by the TU Delft MOOC. While I acknowledge the potential benefits, I have yet to explore and utilize them effectively to enhance my practices. Work in software development. Not AI related (YET).
	No Personal Enrichment	Participants took courses for personal interest and enrichment without professional or academic gain.	For me the courses were purely personal and had no professional or practical purpose. They were mostly taken for personal enrichment, I am out of the workforce and not likely to return to school at this point, so there was no professional nor academic gain to be had.
	Lack of Relevance	Participants highlighted that the courses did not cover new techniques, study tips, or were not relevant to their studies or professional life.	Because a lot of it didn’t apply to my studies. It was just informational. It wasn’t relevant for my studies.
	Limited Engagement	Participants mentioned limited engagement, lack of practical use, or no impact due to factors like unfamiliar subject areas.	No influence. No ideas have occurred to me yet. I didn’t engage enough for it to have an impact.