Coursera Expands Online Learning in India with New Partnerships, Degrees and Certificates, GenAI Features, and Hiring Solutions

Mumbai, May  2023: Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR), a leading online learning platform, has announced several new partnerships, degree, and certificate programs from top-tier Indian institutions, platform innovations powered by ChatGPT, and expanded immersive learning experiences at its annual conference – Coursera Day in association with IIT Bombay. The company also launched Coursera Hiring Solutions, which aims to connect learners in India with entry-level digital jobs worldwide.

“We’re excited to see our continued momentum in India, driven by the efforts of institutions and the government to equip individuals with skills for a digital future,” said Shravan Goli, Chief Operating Officer, Coursera. “India is one of our fastest-growing markets and is critical to our global strategy. We’re proud to support and empower learners with several new content and platform innovations to accelerate the next phase of their education and career.”

Announcing 4 new partnerships, 1 career-focussed degree program, and 2 university certificates:

• New partnerships with S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR) to offer their flagship degrees online, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and industry experts like Zoho and Fractal Analysis to prepare learners for in-demand digital jobs
• PGDM (Online) from SPJIMR: The 2-year Post Graduate Diploma in Management offers an integrated approach to functional management and related problem-solving tools and includes a choice of three micro specializations in the areas of marketing, supply chain, and finance.
• Expanded partnership with IIM Ahmedabad (IIMA) to offer 2 new certificate programs
• Decision-making Using Game Theory: The program covers key behavioral economics & strategy concepts like Nash Equilibrium, Prisoner’s Dilemma, and Network Effects. It provides practical, interactive learning experiences through real-world case studies, live games, and experiments, enhancing students’ strategic thinking and decision-making skills. The course is designed for working professionals in strategy & general management, entrepreneurs, and graduate students.
• Elephants & Cheetahs – Operations strategy: The course is meant for general management professionals and early to mid-stage functional managers. Students will learn interlinkages between various functions such as sales, marketing, HR, and operations to develop integrated business strategies. The 100% case study-based program encourages live discussions and peer learning.

To make learning and teaching more interactive, effective, and personalized, Coursera is introducing ChatGPT-powered tools and VR features:

• Coursera Coach: A virtual coach, powered by generative AI, to answer learner questions, share personalized feedback, and provide quick video lecture summaries and resources. Rollout begins in the coming months.
• AI-Assisted Coursera Building: Based on prompts from human authors, the AI-powered course-building tool will auto-generate content, including course structure, descriptions, readings, assignments, and glossaries already available on Coursera. The pilot will be available to select educator partners later this year.
• Immersive learning: Expanded VR course experiences for learners on the platform. These include Courses from Duke, Peking University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Washington covering a range of skills such as public speaking, leadership, human physiology, mobility, language learning, and training for healthcare practitioners.

Finally, the company is also launching a skills-based recruitment service to unlock career opportunities for Coursera learners:

Coursera Hiring Solutions (Beta) matches industry-trained, job-ready talent for companies filling entry-level digital roles. Job seekers can build skills and use their Skills Profile to showcase their readiness to employers with credentials, assessments, and projects. Recruiters can use the Talent Dashboard to view pre-qualified entry-level talent and verify skill proficiency at scale with job-aligned assessments. Leading Indian employers, including Axis Bank, Kantar, and Appario, are piloting the offering and uncovering talent from universities such as Graphic Era Deemed to be University, K L Deemed To Be University, and Chandigarh University. The solution is available in India, with plans to expand to the US soon.

We’re committed to creating a skilled, resilient, and competitive workforce by making job-relevant education accessible and fostering institutional collaboration,” said Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and APAC, Coursera. “Our partnerships with leading Indian educators and new platform features will make learning more relevant, personalized, and interactive for learners of all ages and backgrounds, both in India and abroad.”

With 19.8 million registered learners, India is Coursera’s second-largest market and has the potential to outpace the entire continent of Europe in terms of the number of learners. As per Coursera’s Learner Outcomes Report 2023, 89% of Indian learners reported career benefits, and 97% reported personal benefits from learning on Coursera. This underscores the positive impact the Coursera platform is making in upskilling India’s workforce. In 2021, Coursera elevated its India operations to become the hub for the entire APAC region, strengthening its commitment to the region.