The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has entered into a partnership with Coursera to facilitate free access to 3,800
courses designed to skill and reskill citizens of Commonwealth Member States for livelihoods.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown measures have impacted over 1.5 billion learners around
the world, leaving them with little or no option to continue their education. Millions have lost their jobs and need
reskilling to regain employment. Coursera has recently announced the Coursera Workforce Recovery initiative, as an
immediate solution to the challenges faced by people. It will offer these courses free of charge to COL stakeholders.
Professor Asha Kanwar, COL President and CEO, stated: “COL is pleased to partner with Coursera to make a difference to
the lives of thousands of people of the Commonwealth whose immediate need is to acquire skills for regaining
employment.”
This initiative allows COL to work with partners of its Skills Online initiative, Focal Points in each of the 54 nations of the Commonwealth, and members of the newly formed International Partnership of Distance and Online Learning for COVID-19.
COL has established a helpdesk, with experts around the world, to provide the unemployed learners with a choice of
courses, administrative and academic support, along with mentorship and counselling.
Commonwealth Member States can enrol their unemployed citizens in any of the Coursera courses through September 30,
2020, and learners can complete courses and obtain certifications by December 31, 2020. Coursera courses are taught by
highly reputed Professors and Mentors from world-class institutions and companies, attuned to the need of equipping
people with skills for employment.