Latest news with #Coursera
Tahawul Tech
a day ago
- Business
- Tahawul Tech
UAE sets pace in GenAI-powered upskilling and inclusive digital transformation
The UAE's 344% surge in GenAI course enrollments signals more than a trend—it marks a turning point in how nations prepare for an AI-first future. At the forefront of this shift is Coursera, whose data-driven approach to talent development is helping enterprises, governments, and individuals build future-ready capabilities at scale. In this exclusive interview, Kais Zribi, General Manager for the Middle East and Africa at Coursera, spoke to Sandhya D'Mello, Technology Editor, CPI Media Group, shedding light on the evolving skilling landscape, the UAE's leadership in AI maturity, and the steps being taken to bridge gender gaps in emerging tech sectors. Interview Excerpts: How do you see the UAE's remarkable 344% growth in GenAI enrollments shaping enterprise workforce strategies across the region? Are similar trends emerging in other key markets? The UAE's 344% growth in GenAI enrollments reflects a profound shift in how enterprises across the region are preparing their workforces for the future. This surge signals that AI fluency is no longer optional, it's essential for innovation, competitiveness, and long-term resilience. Employers are rethinking talent development strategies by embedding AI and GenAI skills into upskilling roadmaps and treating them as foundational capabilities. This aligns closely with digital transformation agendas, as governments invest in human capital to power AI-driven economies. Similar trends are emerging across the region. In Saudi Arabia and Qatar, GenAI enrollments have grown by 165% and 194% respectively, supported by bold national AI strategies and talent development initiatives. 'Organisations are accelerating investments in job-relevant, scalable learning to address urgent talent gaps and build agile, innovation-ready teams.' Globally, GenAI is Coursera's fastest-growing skill category. In 2025 alone, over 12 learners enroll in GenAI courses every minute, and we now offer nearly 700 courses. By delivering high-quality, localised content at scale, Coursera is helping enterprises across the UAE and the broader region upskill rapidly and stay ahead of technological disruption. What role do Coursera's enterprise partnerships play in helping businesses close skill gaps and build future-ready talent pipelines? Coursera's enterprise partnerships are helping organisations across the UAE respond to surging demand for AI, data, and tech skills. As the majority of employers prioritise these capabilities, the need for targeted, scalable upskilling has become critical. Through flexible, curated learning pathways, supported by localised content and AI-powered tools, Coursera enables public and private sector organisations to accelerate talent development and prepare their workforces for the AI era. Our Global Skills Report shows that more than 13% of the UAE's labor force is actively learning on Coursera, highlighting strong digital engagement. Globally, 94% of employers say they're more likely to hire candidates with GenAI credentials, underscoring the growing demand for skills that Coursera's enterprise solutions are designed to deliver. This aligns with what we see in the UAE, where employers increasingly value industry-aligned credentials that demonstrate job-readiness in key fields. Our partnerships extend beyond content delivery. Coursera works closely with enterprises to design upskilling programs aligned to business goals, from accelerating AI adoption to building data-literate teams. Coursera's platform enables organisations to build structured, job-relevant learning programs that support continuous upskilling, track progress at scale, and help retain talent. By equipping teams with in-demand skills, businesses can respond more effectively to disruption, remain competitive, and strengthen internal mobility. What lessons can other countries in the region learn from the UAE's approach to scaling AI learning and infrastructure? The UAE's top ranking on Coursera's AI Maturity Index highlights a holistic and forward-looking strategy that offers a blueprint for other countries in the region. The country's approach combines investments in infrastructure, education, and regulatory agility. From mandating AI education in public schools to launching initiatives like the 5GW AI Campus, the UAE is embedding AI learning across all levels, creating a steady pipeline of talent ready to lead in an AI-first world. At the same time, the UAE fosters a vibrant ecosystem, attracting global capital such as the US$100 billion MGX fund, and advancing public-private collaboration. Agile governance and progressive regulation support responsible progress and accelerate AI adoption. Other countries can draw on these lessons: align education with national strategies, mobilise investment in tech infrastructure, and establish inclusive, visionary policies that enable both access and innovation. The UAE's success illustrates how coordinated action between government, industry, and higher education institutions can drive meaningful progress. At Coursera, we believe that such multi-stakeholder collaboration is essential to delivering high-quality learning that equips citizens for the jobs of tomorrow. By prioritising human capital development alongside technological infrastructure, countries can accelerate their journey toward a competitive, inclusive digital economy. How is Coursera working with enterprises and governments to advance women's participation in AI and STEM across the region? While the UAE has made strong progress in digital transformation, Coursera's Global Skills Report highlights persistent gender gaps in emerging tech fields. While women account for 32% of Coursera learners in the UAE, only 24% of them are enrolled in STEM and 21% in GenAI courses. 'Regionally, women make up 35% of learners across MENA, but just 31% of them are in STEM and 24% in GenAI, signaling a clear need for more inclusive access.' To help address this, Coursera is working closely with public and private sector partners to expand women's participation in AI and STEM. Beyond scalable learning, we're also convening ecosystem players across the region to tackle structural barriers and surface shared solutions, including through initiatives like the Coursera Women Leadership Summit MEA, which brings together regional stakeholders, global educators like Dr. Barbara Oakley, and prominent female leaders to spotlight pathways for women in emerging tech. Building on these efforts, our research, highlighted in the Closing the Gender Gap in GenAI Skills playbook, identifies key barriers such as time constraints and perceptions around career relevance that continue to limit women's engagement. We're responding with flexible, self-paced learning, modular content, and AI-powered coaching to support diverse learning needs. Overcoming these challenges also requires tailored messaging, clear career pathways, and equitable learning environments. That's why we're working with governments, universities, and industry partners to expand access to GenAI content and professional certificates, and to showcase how these skills translate into meaningful careers. Our interdisciplinary GenAI courses highlight real-world applications across sectors, helping shift perceptions and boost engagement among women. Industry micro-credentials offer more accessible, affordable routes to job readiness, allowing women to demonstrate their skills and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving workforce. By embedding equity into course design, showcasing diverse role models, and leveraging strategic partnerships, we aim to make tech careers more accessible and aspirational for women. Increasing women's participation in tech not only drives equity but also unlocks new perspectives and innovation, fueling a more inclusive digital future.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Future Skills Academy records wide interaction and creates tangible knowledge impact in its first phase
Dubai, UAE - The Future Skills Academy, one of the pioneering initiatives of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with Coursera, has recorded significant engagement and promising results in its first phase. This marks a strong start towards its mission to empower Arab learners with future-ready job market skills. The wide interaction received by the academy in its first phase underscores the growing demand for individuals to develop digital and vocational skills in the Arab world. As part of its ambitious goal, the academy aims to enable 10 million learners in the Arab region to acquire the most in-demand job market skills by 2030, targeting 25,000 learners in 2025. It offers curated courses in high-demand fields such as data analysis, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship, in addition to developing transferable skills. Within one month of its launch, the academy witnessed a surge of interest from thousands of learners across various Arab countries. Learners completed 4,721 courses, viewed more than 191,419 educational videos, read more than 126,136 educational materials, and completed over 108,568 assessments, totaling 45,385 hours of effective learning. Dr. Abdullah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP), said: 'According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, nearly 59% of the global workforce, including Arab graduates, young people, women, and marginalized groups, will require training and skills development within the next five years. With 39% of basic job market skills projected to change by 2030, the necessity to strengthen educational and vocational reskilling programs to prepare future generations for the changing requirements within the labor market is critical.' He continued: 'The Future Skills Academy is a strategic response to these shifting dynamics in the Arab region. By empowering 10 million Arab learners, including young graduates, with future skills by 2030, our academy contributes to economic recovery, enhances prosperity, and supports sustainable development through inclusive, future-focused education. With a focus on continuous learning, we seek to bridge basic skills gaps and unlock the potential of Arab talent to lead innovation.' Al Dardari also added: 'This academy not only develops skills but also enhances the competitiveness and strength of the workforce and economies in Arab countries.' His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said: 'The strong response to the academy reflects the Arab world's growing commitment to acquiring digital and professional skills as well as lifelong learning. It also underscores learners' passion and interests to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for their countries, foster sustainable development and advance a competitive, knowledge-based economy.' H.E. added: 'At MBRF, we believe that cultivating talent is the cornerstone of both intellectual and socio-economic progress. Through this initiative, we seek to empower 10 million Arabs by 2030, inspired by our wise leadership's vision to prioritize human development and knowledge advancement. In collaboration with our strategic partners, we reaffirm our commitment to empower as many young talents across the Arab world as possible, equipping them to compete and lead in the knowledge economy and sustainable development across all sectors.' Kais Zribi, Coursera's General Manager for the Middle East and Africa, said: 'As industries transform rapidly under the influence of technology, access to high-quality, market-aligned education is more essential than ever. The Future Skills Academy opens doors for thousands of Arab learners to gain practical, in-demand skills, supporting personal and professional growth as well as regional economic development. We are proud to partner with UNDP and MBRF on this impactful mission.' The academy builds on the earlier FutureSkills4All program, which enabled 10,000 learners to complete 15,000 training programs, totaling 114,000 hours of learning. With this new phase, MBRF and UNDP aim to deepen their impact and foster knowledge sustainability across the Arab world. The Future Skills Academy offers flexible digital learning through an advanced electronic library featuring content and programs from leading global universities and institutions. Looking ahead, the academy plans to expand its strategic partnerships, further enhance content quality and broaden access for diverse communities. For more information about the Future Skills Academy and to register for upcoming cohorts, please visit the website:
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Business
- Newsweek
New Coursera CEO Greg Hart on the Future of Learning at Work
Greg Hart became CEO of Coursera in February, taking over after the retirement of Jeff Maggioncalda, who had been leading the education technology company since 2017. Hart was previously the chief product officer at Compass, the real estate brokerage that went public in 2021. Before that, he spent 23 years at Amazon, where he led some of the company's most well-known product teams, including Alexa and Prime Video. Coursera filed for IPO in 2021 and is nearing profitability, reporting a net loss of $7.8 million on $179 million revenue after Q1 2025. Coursera's CEO sat down with Newsweek for a conversation about his new job, training and the future of work. Editor's Note: This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Coming from Amazon and Compass, what made the opportunity to lead Coursera interesting to you? The opportunity to join Coursera was unbelievably appealing because of the mission and the societal good. The mission of democratizing access to education so that anyone, anywhere around the world can transform their life through the power of learning, you can't script a better mission. And there's never been a greater need for that than now. You've got huge parts of the world that don't have access to the internet still, 2.5 billion people in the world that do not have online access, according to the World Economic Forum... A billion of those people are going to come online over the next five years. My vision would be, how do we meet them as they come online? How do we help them gain those skills? We have 168 million registered learners so far, but I'd love to go after that next billion. Greg Hart, CEO of Coursera. Greg Hart, CEO of Coursera. Coursera What did you do during the first few weeks in seat? I spent the month or two after I joined really just diving into every area of the company, relationships with partners, our technology stack, how we're organized, what we should focus on strategically, and just thinking about, how do we continue to focus in the right way on the problems that we're trying to solve for learners? The approach that I like to take is identify what I would refer to as durable customer needs. The learner is our core customer. So what are durable-learner needs? Examples of that would be, there is no way that it's not going to be true in five years or 10 years that learners will not want a more personalized learning experience. They will always want a more personalized learning experience. They will also, by the same token, always want to achieve better outcomes from that experience. So, how do we organize to make sure that we're making progress on each of those things every day. What goals do you have around talent strategy and partnership with HR? I think of the CEO's role as multifaceted from a talent perspective. First and foremost, you need to make sure that the company has clear strategic direction. I believe that the right way to arrive at clear strategic direction is not for the CEO to dictate that direction but for the CEO to help guide the leadership team as they collectively come up with that. More brains focused on a problem generally deliver better outcomes than fewer brains, so I'd really like to have that be a collaborative process. I think there are a couple of benefits that you get from that. One, you get much more engagement and also much more buy-in to whatever that strategy ends up being. As you're talking about that with folks across the broader organization, you start to harness the energy that they have around it as well. So it just becomes this force multiplier as people gain passion around that strategy and how the work that they do aligns and drives that strategy. From a talent perspective, my view is we are a learning company; you want to have people who are curious, who are lifelong learners, who constantly ask, "Why?" and "How could this be better?" When faced with a challenge, their response isn't "We can't do that." It's "Okay, how could we do that? How would we solve that problem?" Part of it is making sure that the company reflects the values that you think the company needs to have to achieve its objectives, both as a business and for its customers. Since we're a learning company, it's easy to have that set of values... A big part of the role that we play in society is educating people, helping them gain new skills. We have to make sure that internally within the company, we keep developing our talent so that they're also gaining new skills, not just in Gen AI but, you know, for the tasks that we need them to do from a leadership perspective and functional perspective, etc. So, making sure that we provide the right levels of support and structure and frameworks around that. And then, you know, really, it's just like, do you have the right talent and the right [organizational] structure to most effectively go after your objectives as a business, and what that org structure is in the talent that you need today might be very different than what it is tomorrow, so you also have to be nimble and adaptable. What is your sense of the way talent and upskilling have entered the forefront with so much change occurring in the business world? Each company had to go through the pandemic and the post-pandemic on their own, of course they're all looking at each other... but at the end of the day, you have to make the decision that you feel is right for your specific company, whatever space it might be in. If you have situations where talent is scarce, that puts more energy on the side of the person who's thinking about their next job and makes it more challenging for employers. I think we've moved a little bit back the other way now. The pendulum has swung so the imbalance is on the side of their employers, but at the same time, there's plenty of challenges for them, not just in upskilling their existing workforces but finding the right talent. I think some of the considerations that the boards and CEOs are focused on now is: In the current environment, how do we stay really nimble? Because the macroeconomic environment is very different than what people thought it would be three or four months ago, and it continues to change. I definitely think there's more and more of a desire to make sure that you have the right ways to bring people together. For some people, that might mean being in the office in the same way they were pre-pandemic. For others, it's just finding the right moments to bring people together and then what you get out of those moments. What is your sense of the state of education and the role Coursera plays in its future? Right now, people are questioning the cost of education. They're questioning the value of that at the other end. You have shrinking budgets; you have colleges closing. So it's a really challenging time. We've been focused on, how do we use micro-credentials to help augment the curricula that university partners offer at their institutions. So, working with ACE [American Council on Education] here in the U.S., ECTS [European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System] in Europe and then NSQF [National Skills Qualification Framework] in India, we've gotten over 55 different micro-credentials that now are recommended for credit at universities. So that's a fantastic way for a university to say, 'OK, look, it's really challenging to stay on top of the pace of technical development' and Gen AI, and there is a phenomenal body of partners out there who are doing this all the time in their industry. What's your take on how non-technical workers and managers can upskill on AI and emerging technology? Gen AI has increased the demand for workforce adaptation and for upskilling and rescaling to ensure that companies have employees that are continually capable of doing their job as it changes underneath them. So there's a real need, even though the average customer service representative doesn't necessarily come from a technical background, to ensure that they're really good at using those tools. I think you're going to continue to see that ongoing demand for non-technical workers to gain familiarity with technical skills, specifically AI skills and how to leverage those. And some of that is going to be driven by the engineering teams that are creating the systems that they're using to do that. You've seen a lot of courses, like Gen AI for Leaders. We have a course that Dr. Jules White at Vanderbilt [University] created, Gen AI for university presidents and university leaders. And that's a very different type of course than Gen AI for everyone, right? Because obviously, if you're in education, there's the need certainly to learn about Gen AI and its impact, but there's also the need to understand deeply what that means for your institution, right, and how you keep that institution evolving and meeting its needs for its learners, students.
Qatar Tribune
4 days ago
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar sees 194% surge in GenAI enrollments, 55% growth in professional certificates: Coursera
DOHA: Coursera, a leading online learning platform, has announced that Qatar has seen a 194 percent year-over-year increase in Generative AI (GenAI) enrollments and a 55 percent growth in Professional Certificate enrollments across Qatar, pointing to growing demand for flexible, job-relevant credentials that correspond to national transformation goals. The report revealed that Qatar now leads the Arab world in technology and data science skills, scoring 64 percent in each domain, and also demonstrates strong performance in business skills with a score of 72 percent. These results align with the country's focus on digital and human capital development under its Digital Agenda 2030, which aims to boost professional competencies by 10 percent and grow the ICT sector to 3.5 percent of non-oil GDP by the end of the decade. According to the report, Qatar ranks 3rd in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for overall skills proficiency, climbing to 40th place globally in 2025, up from 76th in 2023 and 58th in 2024, according to the platform's annual Global Skills Report. This leap reflects Qatar's ambitious push toward a diversified, knowledge-based economy and a future-ready workforce. Drawing on data from Coursera's global community of over 170 million learners, the report identifies where skill proficiencies are rising, where gaps remain, and what drives learner behavior across more than 100 countries. Qatar's growing investment in AI as a national priority is already shaping both learner behavior and employer demand. Based on the set of skills emphasized in the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025, artificial intelligence and machine learning have emerged as the most in-demand skills among employers, with learner enrollments in these areas from Qatar rising by 145 percent. This surge supports the goals of Qatar's Artificial Intelligence Strategy and broader economic diversification agenda, especially as 41 percent of employees view AI as a crucial reskilling pathway. In this context, Coursera's General Manager for the Middle East and Africa Kais Zribi said: "Driven by a clear vision for the future, Qatar is transforming its advanced digital infrastructure into a catalyst for AI-powered innovation and sustainable economic growth. Coursera's Global Skills Report 2025 underscores Qatar's commitment to human capital development as it proactively equips its workforce with advanced technical and job-relevant skills needed to excel in the digital age. This effort is poised to fuel further innovation, positioning Qatar as a regional leader in the digital economy." Among Coursera's 10.8 million learners in MENA, over 200,000 are based in Qatar, with a median age of 36. Nearly half (49 percent) of these learners access the platform via mobile devices. Today, 9 percent of Qatar's labor force is actively learning on Coursera, reflecting the nation's vision for digital fluency and workforce readiness. New to this year's report is the AI Maturity Index, which assesses countries' readiness for AI by combining Coursera learner data with external metrics from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Qatar ranks 45th globally out of 109 countries and among the top five in the region, signaling strong potential for AI-driven growth.
Arab Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait Ranked 5th in Gulf for Overall Skills
KUWAIT CITY, June 14: The Global Skills Index (GSI) 2025, issued by the online learning platform Coursera, showed that Kuwait ranked fifth in the Gulf and 69th globally in terms of overall skills under the 'Emerging Countries' category, which includes countries with skill performance score ranging from 25 to 49 percent, reports Al-Rai daily. Kuwait was ranked among the relatively average performing countries in skills in the fields of Business, Technology and Data Science, but lagged in the AI Maturity Index -- a subindex -- where it ranked 72nd globally. Comparing Kuwait's performance with its Gulf counterparts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) topped the Arab world, ranking 38th globally; followed by Qatar at 40th, Bahrain at 51st, Saudi Arabia at 54th, and Oman at 75th. Thus, Kuwait surpassed Oman among Gulf countries in the overall skills ranking, but ranked sixth in the Gulf on the AI Maturity Index. Meanwhile, Switzerland topped the overall ranking, followed by the Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, and Finland in the top five, reflecting their superior mix of technical, business and Data Science skills. In contrast, Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia, Venezuela, and Iraq ranked last -- all these countries are suffering from multiple crises in education and technical infrastructure. The report is based on an analysis of data from more than 170 million learners on the Coursera platform, along with external indicators from organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. The GSI is a global benchmark for measuring workforce readiness for digital market demands. It provides comprehensive rankings for more than 109 countries in three main areas: Business, Technology and Data Science, in addition to the new AI Maturity Index. The authors indicate that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies have become the most in-demand skill globally, with enrollment in AI courses increasing by 195 percent in one year. However, the skills gap remains a global challenge, with data from the report confirming that more than two-thirds of employers worldwide consider skills shortages a major barrier to adopting new technologies.
