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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider Filipino learners embrace high-demand tech skills and personal development on Coursera

Filipino learners embrace high-demand tech skills and personal development on Coursera

Data from over 2.1 million users shows surge in GenAI and data science courses, reflecting commitment to digital economy

Published Dec 27, 2023 05:34 am

At A Glance

  • Coursera has experienced consistent year-over-year growth in the Philippines, indicating a strong and increasing interest in online learning among Filipinos.
  • Filipino learners are keenly interested in acquiring technology and data science skills, with a significant increase in searches for generative AI (GenAI) content, reflecting a focus on staying competitive in the digital economy.
  • The top courses among Filipino users include "Introduction to Generative AI" by Google Cloud, "Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT" by Vanderbilt University, and "Generative AI for Everyone" by DeepLearning.AI. Additionally, Google's "Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere" is highly popular, showing a preference for foundational data and technology literacy.
  • There is a notable interest in courses focusing on personal development, mental health, and well-being, such as "Learning How to Learn" and Yale University's "The Science of Well-Being," indicating a balanced approach to self-improvement among Filipino learners.
  • Coursera, through its Managing Director for APAC, Raghav Gupta, expressed a strong commitment to aiding learners and institutions in the Philippines in preparing for a digital future, highlighting the integration of GenAI in education and the importance of lifelong learning, tech skills, and blended learning for employability in an AI-driven world.

Coursera, one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, has revealed the latest trends and preferences of Filipino learners based on data from over 2.1 million registered users in the country. The data shows that Filipinos are keen to acquire high-demand technology and data science skills and personal development and well-being courses to stay competitive and resilient in the digital economy.

According to Coursera, the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing countries on its platform, with consistent year-over-year growth. The platform offers access to thousands of courses from top universities and organizations in various fields and disciplines.

One of the most notable trends in 2023 was the surge in interest in generative AI (GenAI) content, which refers to using artificial intelligence to create new content, such as images, text, music, and code. Coursera saw a five-fold increase in searches for GenAI courses in the Philippines compared to the previous year. The top three GenAI courses on Coursera among Filipino learners were Introduction to Generative AI (Google Cloud), Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT (Vanderbilt University), and the newly launched Generative AI for Everyone (DeepLearning.AI), which became the fastest-growing course globally on Coursera in 2023, within just six weeks of launch. The course was created by AI pioneer Andrew Ng, also the co-founder of Coursera.

Another trend that emerged in 2023 was the popularity of courses that provide foundational literacy in data and technology, such as Google's Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere, which was the most popular course among Filipino learners. The course teaches the basics of data analysis, visualization, and storytelling and is part of Google's Data Analytics Professional Certificate, which prepares learners for entry-level roles in data analytics. Eight out of 10 of the most popular courses in the Philippines are from Google, demonstrating a strong preference for the tech giant's offerings.

Coursera also observed that Filipino learners were enthusiastic about courses focusing on personal development, mental health, and well-being, such as Learning, How to Learn from Deep Teaching Solutions, and Yale University's The Science of Well-Being. These courses emphasize the importance of lifelong Learning and personal well-being, reflecting a balanced approach to self-improvement.

Coursera's Managing Director for APAC, Raghav Gupta, said the platform is committed to helping learners and institutions in the Philippines prepare for the digital future. "In 2023, Filipinos' passion for learning soared on Coursera. Their interest in GenAI, tech, and data skills not only reflects their thirst for cutting-edge knowledge but also their commitment to staying at the forefront of the digital revolution. In the year ahead, we're excited to use GenAI to transform education, providing personalized, engaging, and inclusive Learning. The renewed focus on lifelong Learning, tech and human skills, and blended Learning on campuses will be the key to employability in the AI-driven world," he said.

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