In collaboration with Women In Cloud, Microsoft will award more than 5,000 scholarships by 2025 for all official Microsoft programs on Coursera
By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer, Coursera
Today, we’re thrilled to announce that three new entry-level Professional Certificates are now available from Microsoft: IT Support Specialist, Cloud Support Associate and Business Analyst. A fourth new certificate, Project Manager, will launch this summer and is now available for pre-enrollment. These programs are designed to foster job readiness in roles that are slated for rapid growth in the next decade.*
With these four new programs, Microsoft now offers 10 entry-level Professional Certificates on Coursera, reaching more than 600,000 learners. Each certificate will include generative AI-specific lessons while focusing on the Microsoft 365 product suite. The programs will also offer hands-on projects and will directly prepare learners for Microsoft certification exams.
“We’re excited to offer more options for learners on Coursera to start or switch their careers by making these courses and skills accessible for people of all backgrounds,” said Elisa Gracefo, Microsoft General Manager of Worldwide Learning Technical Content. “These programs are a testament to Microsoft’s commitment to providing learners with the skills that not just enhance their career but also fill skill gaps in the industry.”
Each entry-level Professional Certificate on Coursera teaches learners the job-ready skills needed to kickstart a new career in a matter of months, no college degree or prior experience required. The new programs from Microsoft are as follows:
- IT Support Specialist Professional Certificate – Equips job seekers with comprehensive skills required for IT support, including data backup, cloud computing, and mobile device management. Available now.
- Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate – Designed for those interested in starting a career in cloud support, this certificate focuses on Microsoft Azure solutions and services. Learners will gain an understanding in managing cloud resources, cloud security management, and cost optimization. Available now.
- Business Analyst Professional Certificate – As the first business analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera, this program provides learners with a combination of business, technology, and data science skills including strategic and data-driven decision-making, change management, and process modeling. Available now.
- Project Manager Professional Certificate – With a rise in project management roles last year, this program focuses on Microsoft Projects for planning and scheduling. Learners walk away with a deep understanding of project management principles, methodologies, and tools. Launching this summer. Available now for pre-enrollment.
Expanding access to popular Microsoft skills
Amid surging demand for Microsoft cloud, AI, and cybersecurity experts, Coursera has partnered with Microsoft and community organization Women in Cloud to launch the Universal Access to Microsoft Skills Scholarship. This scholarship provides 5,000 recipients access to all Microsoft Specializations and Professional Certificates on Coursera (a $6000 value). Those who successfully complete a full Professional Certificate through this scholarship will be awarded a complimentary voucher for the Microsoft certification exam.
These scholarships are available to everyone, with women and marginalized communities as top priorities. Applications are open now.
We’re honored that Microsoft is expanding its portfolio on Coursera as we support an initiative that will increase equitable access to digital skilling opportunities.
Click here to enroll and start your journey towards your new career today.
*Source: Lightcast™. (2024), Job Posting Analytics (Jan 2023 – Dec 2023). Retrieved February 2024.
