Coursera is a platform launched in 20011 by two Stanford University professors who wanted to provide online courses and degree programs for students from all over the world, on a massive scale. This modality is known as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC).
The platform offers free and also paid training in various fields —such as arts and humanities, data science, health, and information technology, among others— and in several languages in addition to English. Coursera offers programs that are at the forefront of industry needs.
First Steps on the Platform
The platform can be accessed through web browsers as well as through the mobile app compatible with iOS and Android devices. To start using it, you need to register for free. You can log in using an email, Google or Apple account, or link with Facebook. In your profile, you can fill in what skills make you stand out and your employment history.
The site is very easy and simple to use, and its interface is very smooth. To search for courses, at the top of Coursera, there is a bar to type in keywords, or you can just go to the Explore button, where all available courses are sorted by subject and type of certification.
Available Training
On Coursera, you can find both free courses and certifications, as well as paid degree courses taught by universities around the world. Classes are 100% online and are delivered by certified professionals in the field.
These are the different ways to learn on Coursera:
- Audits: You can access the content of a course for free, but you cannot demand final certification, or participate in assignments or tasks that are closed.
- Certificate courses: You pay a fee, enroll in a course, and start studying. You can participate in all activities and take the exams at your own pace.
- Specializations: These are courses related to specific topics and have certificates of completion.
- Bachelor's degrees: This is university education, but in online mode. You must pay to take them.
Coursera for Business
Coursera also offers resources and solutions for businesses. Companies can register and have unlimited access to more than 300 courses from the catalog of this renowned e-learning platform to train their staff and support their organizational growth.
In addition to training, companies get different benefits. One of them is that Coursera offers tools to track the progress and performance of employees, who will be able to study at their own pace. The platform also offers up-to-date training that evolves with the advancement of technology, so your workforce will be able to acquire competitive skills.
For non-profit organizations, Coursera provides a 14-day trial so they can investigate whether it fits their organization's needs. If the non-profit wishes to cancel the subscription within that period, Coursera will issue a refund.
Prices and Duration
The courses have a duration of a few hours, usually between 4 and 12 hours, while the specializations last from 1 to 3 months. The prices of undergraduate degrees range from USD 9000 upwards and last between 2 and 4 years. However, with the Coursera Plus subscription, you can access unlimited courses and specializations by paying a monthly or annual fee.
In a Nutshell
Coursera has the advantage of having a wide variety of courses and all of them are online, so you can access them from anywhere in the world. If you are not interested in including training in your CV and you are just looking to expand your knowledge, the option of taking free courses is very good. But if your goal is to use the platform for more in-depth studies, such as a degree, the cost is frequently quite high.
