Nikolaz Foucaud, Regional Director of Coursera, held talks with university officials at the University of Szeged.
On November 19, 2024, Nikolaz Foucaud, Coursera’s regional director for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa), visited the University of Szeged. The purpose of his visit was to brief senior university officials on global education trends, Coursera’s latest innovations, and the platform’s strategic goals.
Global education trends in focus
In his presentation, Nikolaz Foucaud highlighted the increasing importance of digital learning platforms in education. This growing significance is evidenced by the fact that Coursera now has over 160 million learners and thousands of partner institutions worldwide, establishing it as a global leader in online learning in recent years. Current international trends also clearly show that lifelong learning is becoming a priority, with collaboration between universities and industry partners playing a crucial role. In addition, Coursera’s educational content has become markedly more valuable with the rise of artificial intelligence, as the platform provides up-to-date materials to help learners stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape. Impressively, six people enroll in Coursera’s AI-related courses every minute around the world. These courses are still freely accessible to all students at the University of Szeged. Indeed, the popularity of AI-related educational content is on the rise in Hungary, with a PwC study predicting that 900,000 Hungarian jobs will be impacted by artificial intelligence.
Coursera’s innovations for personalized learning
The regional director showcased Coursera’s latest innovations, highlighting the increased integration of AI-powered features that deliver personalized learning experiences. He also spoke about industry and corporate micro-credentials for courses that equip learners with immediately applicable skills. These programs are designed to support upskilling and reskilling efforts for both current and future employees, enabling them to effectively use emerging technologies. Currently, students at the University of Szeged can complete 15 highly valuable credentialed courses (with certificates issued by Google and IBM) for academic credits.
Also popular at the University of Szeged is Coursera Coach, a 2024 addition to the platform. This AI-powered online learning assistant provides reliable information, helping learners master and practice course materials in a personalized way.
The importance of strategic partnerships
Coursera’s partnership with the University of Szeged exemplifies how digital learning tools can be effectively integrated into the programs of a traditional institution open to innovation.
In 2024, the University of Szeged was recognized with Coursera’s Maximizing Impact Award as the region’s best institution for its innovative solutions in online education. Nikolaz Foucaud’s visit reaffirms the University of Szeged’s standing as a key player on the global education map. This status is further strengthened by its close collaboration with Coursera, which offers students access to world-class educational content while also contributing to the growth of the local economy.
Directorate for Academic Affairs
Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
