FILIPINO learners were particularly enthusiastic about online language courses, and also strived to hone their business skills needed to thrive in the global economy—including professional English-language competency, and an understanding of financial markets, according to 2021 data from Coursera Inc.
One of the largest online learning platforms in the world, Coursera has just released its annual study of learner trends across the Philippines. The data, based on choices from more than 1.3 million registered learners, offered insights into the skills, competencies, and subject matter most desirable to Filipinos.
The study said Filipino Coursera learners recognized the shifting nature of work, while prioritizing mental health and well-being. They explored the human brain through courses like “Learning How to Learn,” and “Introduction to Psychology and The Science of Wellbeing.”
Last year Coursera noticed a rising uptake of courses related to professional certificates designed to prepare learners without a college degree or technology experience for a wide range of high-demand digital jobs. The growing emphasis on these certificates will also help to reduce a skills gap that saw the Philippines rank 60th and 77th globally for data science and technology proficiency, respectively, in the latest Coursera Global Skills Report. Google’s “Foundations: Data, Data Everywhere,” which forms part of its Data Analytics Professional Certificate, ranked seventh this year.
“It’s inspiring to see learners make strong progress on their learning goals, even as challenges persist around the world,” said Raghav Gupta, Coursera’s managing director for Asia Pacific. “This year’s…trends suggest that Filipino learners are recognizing the needs of the digital economy, while simultaneously striving to gain control of their mental health.”
Gupta added, “Filipino learners are preparing themselves for success, seeking ways to build future-proof professional skills, especially across business and data science. This…year we look forward to working together to make online learning even more effective and equitable…[with] new, world-class content and tools.”
Other new trending courses illustrate that 2021 was a year of continued personal and professional growth as the world adapted to the new normal. The 10 most popular courses in the Philippines in 2021 were: (1) “Covid-19 Contact Tracing” by Johns Hopkins University; (2) “First Step Korean” by Yonsei University; (3) “English for Career Development” by University of Pennsylvania; (4) “The Science of Well-Being” by Yale University; (5) “Learn to Speak Korean 1” by Yonsei University; (6) “Introduction to Psychology” by Yale University; (7) “Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere” by Google; (8) “Learning How to Learn: Powerful Mental Tools to Help You Master Tough Subjects” by Deep Teaching Solutions; (9) “Japanese for Beginners 1” by Saint Petersburg State University; and (10) “Financial Markets” by Yale University.