Coursera

Coursera is an online learning platform founded in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, professors at Stanford University. It offers a range of online educational products, including massive open online courses (MOOCs), professional certificates, online degree programs, and hands-on projects, in partnership with universities and other institutions worldwide. Learners can audit many courses for free or pay for certificates and degree credentials.

Since its founding, Coursera has expanded from university-taught courses to a broad ecosystem that includes Coursera for Campus, which integrates with higher education institutions, and Coursera for Business (enterprise solutions) for workforce training. The platform collaborates with hundreds of universities and organizations to provide courses and degree programs accessible online worldwide.

Courses span arts and humanities to science and technology. In addition to individual courses, Coursera offers specializations, professional certificates, and online degree programs at the bachelor’s and master’s level. Credentials issued on completion are issued by the partner institutions and are accessible to learners globally.

Coursera generates revenue through certificate fees, tuition for degree programs, and enterprise arrangements. Many courses can be audited for free, with a paid option for certificates; subscription models, such as Coursera Plus, provide access to many courses for a monthly or annual fee.

Coursera has significantly expanded access to higher education and continuing education, but it faces critiques about the value of certificates relative to traditional degrees, cost, completion rates, and concerns over data privacy and quality control. It remains one of the largest providers of online education through university partnerships.