By Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera
Candidates must increasingly demonstrate both interpersonal and technical skills to land and succeed in a role. According to a recent ZipRecruiter report, 93% of employers who posted roles on the hiring platform in the last year said that soft skills – including communication, mentoring, and problem solving – played a critical role in their hiring decisions.
To help learners develop those critical skills, this quarter we introduced new Specializations and courses from industry partners ADP, Accenture, and IBM. This content is taught by industry experts and covers broad topics, including how to effectively lead teams, leverage technology and data, and communicate in the workplace. The new programs are:
- Leading StandOut® Teams Specialization from ADP – This eight-course program exposes learners to a strengths-based approach to leading a team. Learners will explore practical stories drawn from decades of real-world experience, participate in hands-on application of strength-based coaching principles, and, upon completion, have insight into their own power as a leader. This beginner-level program is designed to be completed within six months if learners commit to about four hours of learning per week.
“ADP is thrilled to launch the Leading Standout Teams program with Coursera. This robust leadership and coaching program harnesses the groundbreaking Marcus Buckingham strengths-based leadership philosophy and offers learners a certification opportunity. We are looking forward to continuing to partner with Coursera to empower learners to build people-centric skills and competencies through engaging learning formats.” – Aundrea Malone-Program Strategy Director, ADP Enterprise Learning
- Understanding Technology and Data and Start Your Lifelong Learning courses from Accenture – These two foundational courses are designed to be completed within 10-15 hours each. Understanding Technology and Data provides insight into how technology and data are applied in everyday life to help learners succeed in a digital work environment. Start Your Lifelong Learning examines how to adopt a growth mindset, interact effectively with others, and think through decisions, preparing learners to resolve their own professional and personal challenges.
- People and Soft Skills for Professional and Personal Success Specialization from IBM – This six-course Specialization is especially suitable for learners who want to start a new job or are early in their career. Throughout the program, learners will explore realistic scenarios and mini case studies to practice applying the skills they have learned. The Specialization can be completed in about two months with three hours of learning per week.
This is the first content on Coursera from new partners ADP and Accenture, and we look forward to launching more expert-taught courses and Specializations from them in the near future. Together, with our 100+ industry partners, we are committed to providing learners with affordable, flexible, and job-relevant learning programs.
Enroll today to hone your leadership, technology, and communication skills on Coursera.