By Jeff Maggionalda, CEO of Coursera
Latin America is one of the world’s most vibrant regions, with a youth population exceeding 160 million. With its rapid growth, the region has struggled to keep pace with access to education: less than 20% of the young and adult population have completed higher education.
With Coursera serving more than 21 million learners, 17 university partners, and nearly 400 institutions across LATAM, we’re working hard to increase access to high-quality, job-relevant higher education in the region. We’re excited to announce several new offerings and partnerships to better serve learners and institutions throughout LATAM.
Key announcements include:
Chile:
- BNP Paribas Cardif, a leading insurance and financial services company, announced a five-year expansion of its partnership with Coursera to provide online learning to all BNP Paribas Cardif customers and employees across Latin America. Over 5 million BNP Paribas Cardif customers will have access to more than 5,400 courses and credentials on Coursera to advance their education, develop in-demand digital skills, and unlock new career opportunities. Policyholders have the unique opportunity to learn from leading industry and academic institutions such as Google, IBM, Yale, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. This educational benefit is included within their insurance policy, empowering individuals across all income levels to acquire new skills and boost their earning potential.
Colombia:
- The Master in Artificial Intelligence (MaIA) from the University de los Andes equips Spanish speakers with the skills needed for the fastest-growing job: AI and machine learning specialists. This interdisciplinary program is designed for those with basic knowledge of programming and mathematics. Students will learn how to masterfully develop and ethically deploy AI by studying various technologies, including deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. This completely online program from Colombia’s top-ranked university delivers Uniandes’ renowned education with added flexibility for working professionals.
Argentina:
- All students pursuing a degree at the University of Morón will now have access to Coursera. This initiative empowers students to enhance their degree programs by acquiring industry micro-credentials and gaining career-relevant skills training. By leveraging Coursera’s resources, students can develop highly sought-after digital and soft skills that are crucial in today’s job market. The university expects students to enroll in a diverse range of 40 courses across four competencies: Communication, Project Management, Creative Leadership, and Technology. This collaboration will provide valuable opportunities for students to excel in their academic and professional journeys.
Increasing educational access with Spanish and Portuguese language content:
- We’re also deploying machine learning-powered translation at scale to make learning on Coursera more accessible to our learners across the world. Over the coming months, thousands of course readings, lecture video subtitles, quizzes, assessments, peer review instructions, and discussion prompts across 2,000+ courses will be translated from English into Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, which is on track to bring the total number of fully translated courses to 2,700 by the end of the year. As of Q1 2023, more than 23 million registered learners on Coursera are in countries with these two languages as the official language.
Creating real-world impact for learners in LATAM:
Ultimately greater access to online learning must lead to greater real-world outcomes. We recently released Coursera’s 2023 Learner Outcomes Report, including several findings that illustrate the transformative power of online learning in elevating the lives and careers of learners in LATAM.
- 83% of learners in LATAM report career benefits, such as getting a new job, earning a promotion, gaining applicable career skills, and more.
- Globally, 1 in 4 Entry-Level Professional Certificate completers got a new job, with similar trends across many large LATAM countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile.
- 99% of learners in LATAM intend to continue to learn, 80% planning to enroll in another program on Coursera, and 83% of degree-interested learners intend to enroll in an online degree.
As we move forward in this next phase of growth in Latin America, Coursera remains dedicated to bridging educational gaps and nurturing a generation of learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the dynamic global job market. Together with our partners, we are taking bold new steps towards shaping the future of education, propelling the local economies, and unlocking the full potential of learners and institutions in the region.
Click here to read this blog post in Spanish.