Wright State partners with Coursera to expand career readiness opportunities

Through Wright State’s partnership with Coursera’s Career Academy, students can explore career paths, develop high-demand skills and earn micro-credentials and professional certificates that prove job readiness to employers.

Wright State University students, faculty and staff can now gain free access to industry-recognized certificates and career-aligned courses from industry leaders such as Google, Meta and IBM.

Through a new partnership with Coursera’s Career Academy, students can explore career paths, develop high-demand skills with expert instruction and earn micro-credentials and professional certificates that prove job readiness to employers.

“Coursera gives students the power to shape their own career journey by combining their Wright State education with industry-recognized credentials,” said Kim Gillam, Ed.D., director of career education and success. “This flexibility allows students to graduate with the skills, knowledge and confidence that employers seek.”

Wright State’s partnership with Coursera reinforces the university’s commitment to student success and workforce development by offering industry-aligned training that equips graduates with in-demand skills and the ability to make meaningful contributions in their communities.

Wright State’s partnership extends beyond students to include the entire university community.

All faculty and staff will receive free access to Career Academy programs, supporting professional development and reinforcing the university’s culture of lifelong learning. The platform offers opportunities for Wright State employees to strengthen their skills, explore new areas of knowledge and advance their professional goals.

“Combining a bachelor’s degree with career-relevant skills helps students graduate both broadly educated and job-ready — a true advantage for the future,” said Elissa Falcone, associate vice provost for curricular and strategic initiatives. “Thanks to our partnership with Coursera, all students, faculty and staff now have free access to Coursera’s Career Academy to build valuable skills and pursue their personal and professional interests.”

Wright State will also explore opportunities to integrate Coursera’s offerings into academic courses and programs, further enriching students’ educational experiences.

“This initiative represents a step in broadening access to career-relevant learning,” Falcone said. “In the next phase, we hope to partner with faculty to embed Coursera content within courses, which could strengthen the connection between academic progress and professional preparation.”

Students, faculty and staff can begin using the Wright State Coursera Career Academy immediately to pursue their career and professional development goals.

Wright State joins a select group of institutions offering university-wide access to Coursera’s premium career-focused content.

More information on the Wright State Career Academy is available at wright.edu/career-academy.