Some
critics have blasted colleges and universities for failing to ensure students
are taking subjects that prepare them adequately for jobs after graduation. Coursera
has kicked off a new program intended to align college coursework with the
skills needed by major companies around the world.
Dubbed the
Global Skills Initiative, the program pairs Microsoft, Cisco, UBS, Qualcomm,
BNY Mellon, and Splunk with one of the 120 schools that provide online courses
through Coursera. Together they will develop online course content specifically
designed for each corporate partner’s field of specialty.
“The Global
Skills Initiative brings together the knowledge of industry leaders and the
world-class teaching and academic research of top universities to create highly
applicable curricular material,” said Coursera CEO Rick Levin in a press release. Some of the partner companies may also use the collaborations to create
internal training programs for existing staff.
The schools
and companies will identify specific skill sets, especially those in high
demand. The university creates the course, with funding from the corporation,
which also furnishes industry expertise in the form of case studies, applied
projects, and guest lectures. For example, Qualcomm is working with the
University of California, San Diego, on course content related to the “Internet
of things,” a concept focused on building computerized connectivity into ordinary
objects such as household appliances.
