Announcing new partnerships with Dell and PepsiCo and new entry-level Professional Certificates from CVS Health, Fractal Analytics, and Tableau
By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera
As we near the end of 2023, it’s time to set goals for the year ahead. Over a quarter of people (26%) are looking to change jobs by mid-2024, marking a 7% increase from last year.
To meet this demand, we now offer 45+ entry-level Professional Certificates, a 60% increase from this time last year, to help prepare learners for entry-level jobs. In the last year, we’ve also added 15+ new industry partners in various industries, including NVIDIA, Mayo Clinic, SAP, and Siemens.
Today, I am thrilled to keep the momentum going by adding two new industry partners, Dell and PepsiCo, and four new entry-level Professional Certificates from CVS Health, Fractal Analytics, and Tableau.
Welcoming Dell and PepsiCo as new partners
Water Stewardship Specialization from PepsiCo
PepsiCo, a global leader in convenient foods and beverages, is the first food and beverage partner on Coursera. The company launched PepsiCo Positive (pep+) in 2021—a strategic end-to-end transformation of how they will create growth and shared value while having a positive impact on the planet and people—which includes an aim to become net water positive by 2030. PepsiCo’s new Specialization provides insights from global leaders at PepsiCo, Arizona State University, and The Nature Conservancy about water governance, infrastructure, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. Through three courses, learners will study local and global water resources and develop a plan to advance water stewardship goals.
Develop with Dell: IT Sales Specialization from Dell
Dell, one of the largest tech companies in the world, aims to empower students with the skills needed to get entry-level tech jobs and diversify the workforce with its Develop with Dell program. The company’s first beginner-level Specialization on Coursera equips learners with the knowledge, strategy, and skills needed to find and secure an IT sales role. Experts at Dell detail how to qualify opportunities, understand the buyer, create value props, and close sales. Through hands-on projects, learners will apply what they learn by practicing selling IT services.
“IT sales roles are vital to business success, offering excellent career growth for those who develop the critical skills needed,” said Olanda Sharp-Buckley, Vice President at Dell. “We are excited about our partnership with Coursera where we bring an engaging approach to building and growing careers in the IT industry, ultimately, impacting the lives and future of those ready to transition into their next role.“
New entry-level Professional Certificates to prepare for customer service, data science, and business analyst jobs
No education or industry experience prerequisites needed
Call Center Customer Service Professional Certificate and Retail Customer Service Professional Certificate from CVS Health
Each new certificate comprises four courses and can be completed in about 3-4 months with 5-6 hours of learning per week. They explore foundational customer service skills and processes, such as root cause analysis, de-escalation, prioritization, and communication techniques. Both programs help learners get job-ready through simulations to practice customer interactions and transactions in real-world settings as well as projects that can be used to create a professional portfolio. Learners who go through either certificate will gain access to career support resources such as job search, resume, and interview guidance.
Data Science Professional Certificate from Fractal Analytics
Within five months, learners who dedicate 10 hours a week can learn the skills they need for an entry-level data scientist role, which has an average median salary of over $138,000*. This eight-course program emphasizes problem-solving, teaching learners to break down and solve complex business problems using Python, SQL, Power BI, machine learning and drive decision making through compelling storytelling. Learners will engage in critical thinking to gain a deeper understanding of the core principles of data science, moving beyond operational knowledge. Upon completion, learners earn this preferred qualification that Fractal will consider when hiring for entry-level data science jobs.
“In this age of AI, half-life of knowledge is shrinking rapidly. The people who will succeed will need to adapt, learn to learn, and be creative problem solvers. This certificate will help learners master the basics of data sciences and power enterprise decision-making,” said Srikanth Velamakanni, Co-founder and Group Chief Executive of Fractal Analytics.
Business Intelligence Analyst Professional Certificate from Tableau
Experts in Tableau teach you the specific skills you’ll need to be an effective business intelligence analyst, from data management and data analysis to visualization and communication skills. In 8 months with 10 hours of learning per week, you’ll be prepared to take your career in a new direction and pursue one of the more than 75,000* open roles in business intelligence.
“At Tableau, we believe that data skills are critical for the future of work,” said Courtney Totten, Director of Data Skills and Academic Programs, Tableau at Salesforce. “In partnership with Pathstream and Coursera, this certificate provides online data education to new audiences and inspires learners to build their expertise while preparing for data careers that span from entry level all the way to analyst. We are dedicated to closing the data skills gap with training and enablement programs and partnerships that help individuals and businesses achieve their data goals.”
Learn the skills you need for a new job by enrolling on Coursera today.
*Median salary and job opening data are sourced from United States Lightcast™ Job Postings Report. Data for job roles relevant to featured programs (7/1/2022 – 6/30/2023)
