The University of Szeged earned a regional nomination for its innovative developments at the Coursera Annual Summit in the United States in September 2024.
Coursera, the world's largest educational platform with over 155 million users, recently hosted a workshop focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in online education and the labor market. The event explored how AI is shaping the learning experience and highlighted emerging global trends. Péter Szakál, Director for Academic Affairs, and Lilla Kocsis, Head of the Department of Education Development at the University of Szeged, were invited by Coursera to share their insights on leveraging online learning tools. The University of Szeged also earned a prestigious nomination for its innovative educational developments, recognized as the best in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa).
”AI Is The New Electricity”
Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda cited founding professor Andrew Ng from 2016 in his lecture. The CEO demonstrated the revolutionary influence of AI, comparing its importance to electricity: AI can be the driving force behind processes that may seem unimaginable today, much like how electricity evolved.
Shifts in the labor market are directly impacting education, as the growing demand for AI-related skills is driving a surge of interest in AI training. On Coursera, six people enroll in AI courses every minute. Fortunately, the platform offers a wide range of courses from beginner to advanced levels, thanks to universities and top companies continuously launching online trainings. Students at the University of Szeged can access these materials and even earn academic credits. Additionally, the Alumni for Coursera program enables graduates to acquire AI-related knowledge at no cost.
”While Talent Is Equally Distributed Around The World, Opportunities are Not”
– reminded Jeff Maggioncalda. In collaboration with universities and key figures in industry, Coursera is committed to advancing equal opportunities and providing equal access to education, adapting to the rapidly changing demands of the labor market. AI plays a central role in Coursera’s platform development, offering a more personalized learning experience. Since the summer of 2024, students of the University of Szeged have gained access to Coursera Coach, a personal study assistant that helps with sample tests, practices, exam preparation and tailored advice.
”AI Itself Will Not Replace Humans, but Those Who Fail To Adopt AI Could Be Left Behind”
Professor Barbara Oakley, a leading figure in online education, cited researcher Fei Fei Li to stress the critical importance of AI literacy in her presentation on the impact of AI on learning. She emphasized how global access to AI will revolutionize the delicate process of learning and education. Courses by Barbara Oakley are attracting millions of users, and the portfolio continues to expand: Accelerate Your Learning with ChatGPT | Coursera and Critical Thinking: A Brain-Based Guide for the ChatGPT Era | Coursera are highly recommended for those eager to explore the platform’s services. These courses are free for students and staff at the University of Szeged via Coursera.
”Keep in Mind: AI Is No Magic”
– warned Alondra Nelson, plenary speaker at the conference and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighting the need for the responsible and thoughtful use of AI. Throughout the panel discussions, the importance of carefully managing the changes that come with the revolutionary impact of AI was raised multiple times, and it was also highlighted by the Director of Education at OpenAI and the Head of Training at IBM. They emphasized that the previous focus on technical and IT skills is now being complemented by a reinforced emphasis on human skills, such as critical thinking and creativity.
„Coursera Is Like a Swiss Army Knife”
– said Péter Szakál about the educational platform at the panel discussion on the integration of corporate training, where he also presented the practice developed by the University of Szeged for using online study materials. The opportunity for earning academic credits by completing an online course, integrating corporate trainings into the curriculum, and attending career courses provide flexibility to enhance knowledge. This approach adds value to degrees from the University of Szeged, whether graduates are just starting their careers or looking to pivot into new ones. In 2024, the University of Szeged received a regional nomination for the Coursera Enterprise Awards in recognition of its innovative solutions; a video interview with Lilla Kocsis highlights the key elements and achievements that contributed to this prestigious recognition.
Novelties at Coursera
Developments to enhance the learning experience:
- Further courses have been translated into 21 languages with the use of AI technology.
- The platform now features a curated selection of learning materials for 40 in-demand jobs, including roles like data analyst, project manager, and digital marketing expert.
- Several new universities have joined the platform, offering their own courses, including sports-related training from the Real Madrid Graduate School.
- Coursera has achieved accreditation from the American Council on Education (ACE) American Council on Education (ACE) (state.gov) as an online learning platform for the first time.
- Instructors can enrich course contents by adding interactive and personalized tasks, such as dialogues that may include audio components as well.
- AI technology is also utilized to verify the integrity of online exams by monitoring the testing environment and checking for plagiarism, for instance.
SZTEinfo
