Every 3 minutes in 2023 someone in India enrolled in GenAI content on Coursera.

Popular courses show increasing demand for entry-level digital skills and leadership proficiency.

Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR), one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, today released its annual study of learner trends based on data from over 22.2 million registered learners in India. In 2023, Coursera saw a huge surge in interest for GenAI content, with searches growing 4-fold in India compared to the previous year. Indian learners were enrolling in GenAI content on Coursera approximately every three minutes in the year. To meet this demand, leading global university and industry educators launched 35+ courses or projects on genAI on Coursera, resulting in 196,000 enrollments in the country. A standout course in this domain is “Generative AI for Everyone” authored by AI pioneer, Andrew Ng. Within just 6 weeks of launch, it became the fastest-growing course in 2023 and has the second highest enrollment from Indian learners.

The 2023 data shows that Indian learners are particularly enthusiastic about courses that provide high-demand technology and data science skills, indicating a keen desire to gain the competencies needed to thrive in the modern, digital economy. The second-most popular course this year was IIM Ahmedabad’s Leadership Skills, covering topics such as influence, authority, power dynamics, stress management, and lessons from The Mahabharata.

There was also a rising uptake of courses that are part of entry-level Professional Certificates, which require no background knowledge or college degree, and teach the skills needed for entry-level roles. 50% of the top courses in India like Google’s Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere, and Foundations of Project Management are part of these programs.

“In 2023, India’s passion for learning soared on Coursera. The interest in GenAI, leadership, tech, and data skills, not only reflects the learners’ thirst for cutting-edge knowledge but also their commitment to staying at the forefront of the digital revolution”, said Raghav Gupta, Managing Director, India and APAC, Coursera. “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.”