On AI Appreciation Day, Coursera, an online learning platform, announced several new initiatives aimed at empowering individuals and institutions with mission-critical GenAI skills, equipping them to harness the transformative power of AI technology. These initiatives include new GenAI-focused content and credentials, enhancements to the existing Professional Certificate portfolio with GenAI-specific updates, upgrades to Coursera Coach, and an expansion of the GenAI Academy to help businesses equip their teams with GenAI skills.
A recent AWS report by AWS revealed that ASEAN employers are willing to pay 36% more for workers with AI skills. These new launches aim to address the growing demand for GenAI skills globally, and in the Philippines. So far, there have been over 2 million enrollments globally on Coursera of which 13,000 are from the Philippines (642% YoY increase).
“The soaring demand for GenAI courses by Filipino learners on Coursera underscores their resilience and forward-thinking spirit needed to thrive in a world driven by rapid technological shifts,” said Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Coursera. “On this AI Appreciation Day, we are thrilled to enhance our offerings of mission-critical GenAI skills through trusted brands and credentials, turning it into an engine of opportunity for everyone. By embracing AI-enhanced learning and developing an AI-skilled talent pool, the Philippines can harness GenAI’s potential to empower every citizen and drive significant economic growth.”
The new initiatives Coursera announced today include:
- 7 new GenAI courses, Specializations, and certificates from top partners
- Generative AI for Software Development Skills Certificate from DeepLearning.AI – Designed for software developers and engineers at all stages in their careers, this program will explore how large language models (LLMs) work, their architecture, and their applications in various coding tasks.
- Programming with Generative AI course from IIT Guwahati – Designed for software developers, tech leads, or AI enthusiasts, this hands-on course explores how GenAI tools can transform the coding workflow.
- Artificial Intelligence Graduate Certificate from the University of Colorado Boulder – This comprehensive program helps learners build a strong foundation in key AI topics, including GenAI, natural language processing, computer vision, and ethics.
- Generative AI in Marketing Specialization from UVA Darden – This four-course series explores how GenAI frameworks, applications, and considerations are essential to create and sustain an effective AI marketing solution.
- Responsible Generative AI Specialization from University of Michigan – By exploring the possibilities and risks of GenAI, learners will be able to identify impacts relevant to business operations, consumers, society, and the environment.
- Change Management for Generative AI course from Vanderbilt University –This course will delve into the strategies and frameworks necessary for organizations to successfully implement and adapt to GenAI.
- Generative AI for Kids, Parents, and Teachers course from Vanderbilt University – Designed as a resource for parents and teachers, this free course will help children navigate a world filled with GenAI. It will teach kids how to use GenAI to innovate, solve problems, use multimodal prompting, and engage in creative thinking.
- Enhancing 8 entry-level Professional Certificates from IBM, Microsoft and Meta with GenAI updates including activities, readings, and videos.
Entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera help learners enter high-demand fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, or project management within six months, with no prior degree or experience required. Considering this, Coursera incorporated GenAI-specific content into the following eight entry-level Professional Certificates:
- Data Analyst from IBM
- Data Engineering from IBM
- Data Science from IBM
- Full Stack Software Developer from IBM
- Cybersecurity Analyst from Microsoft
- Power BI Data Analyst from Microsoft
- Marketing Analytics from Meta
- Social Media Marketing from Meta
- Expanding GenAI Academy with ‘GenAI for Teams’: This new catalog from top research institutions and companies will equip teams with GenAI skills tailored to their business functions. With real-world applications and secure, hands-on practice, enterprises can use GenAI Academy to unlock innovation and productivity across functional teams.
- GenAI for Software and Product Teams (100+ courses): Streamline routine tasks such as code generation and documentation, freeing up valuable time to create and launch higher value, differentiated offerings.
- GenAI for Data Teams (70+ courses): Optimize complex tasks such as data analysis and visualization, enabling deeper insights and more accurate business recommendations.
- GenAI for Marketing Teams (60+ courses): Maximize customer lifetime value with deeper insights, content personalization, and more efficient targeting at scale.
- Introducing Coursera Coach as a Sidebar Experience: Coursera Coach, introduced in 2023, provides AI-powered guidance within the learning experience. It will now be available as a sidebar within courses, making it a more integrated part of the learning journey. Coursera Coach will act as an interactive guide, enabling learners to:
- Ask questions to clarify material and stay on track
- Summarize key takeaways for better note-taking
- Practice for quizzes and tests to solidify knowledge and identify gaps
- Explore how their learning aligned with current or future goals
Launched in January 2024, Coursera’s Generative AI (GenAI) Academy is designed to equip executives and their employees with the skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven workplace. GenAI Academy offers a unique blend of foundational literacy and executive education programs from top research universities and companies at the forefront of AI, including Microsoft, Stanford Online, Vanderbilt University, DeepLearning.AI, Fractal Analytics, Google Cloud, and AWS.
Coursera is harnessing the power of GenAI to transform online learning. The platform now offers AI-powered translations for over 4,600 courses and 55 Professional Certificates in 21 languages, making education more accessible to a global audience. An AI-powered Course Builder streamlines content creation, enabling institutions and businesses to develop custom courses efficiently. Additionally, Coursera is committed to maintaining academic integrity through a new suite of AI-powered tools that strengthen assessment and grading processes, ensuring genuine learning and skill development.
