Kerala government partners with Coursera to train 60,000 in state this year

NEW DELHI: The government of Kerala has collaborated with Coursera, an online learning platform, to provide industry-relevant skills to youth across the state. Kerala government’s Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM), an initiative by Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and Coursera will train 60,000 people in the state this year, equipping them with critical skills for 17 high-demand digital job roles.

The partnership was announced today at John Cox Engineering college Kanamoola, Thiruvananthapuram. As part of KKEM, both the parties will train 30 lakh individuals each and create 20 lakh jobs by 2026, as per the official release.

Pinarayi Vijayan, chief minister of Kerala, said: “The role of the youth generation skilled in knowledge occupations is important in Kerala’s journey towards a knowledge economy. I am confident that the Talent Accelerator programme which is part of the VigyanKeralaam program run by the Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission under the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council, will help in upskilling our youth for knowledge occupations.”

KN Balagopal, state finance minister, said: “This partnership with Coursera is a step forward in ensuring our youth and workforce are equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market. By aligning education with industry needs, we are not only fostering local innovation but also positioning Kerala as a hub of global talent and opportunity.”

Explaining the vision of the collaborated programme, the online learning platform said that the program will not just focus on employment but also on building a talent pipeline that aligns education with industry needs, fostering sustainable and inclusive growth.

Kerala government, Coursera pact: Key features

The initiative is based on two key approaches given below.

• Empowering the workforce of tomorrow: By introducing Coursera’s content and micro-credentials, graduating students will gain industry-relevant skills that will make them job-ready. This includes the talent accelerator programme, a three-month intensive initiative for final-year students in higher education institutions across Kerala, with the first cohort launching in 250 colleges.

• Upskilling job seekers and professionals: Individuals seeking new opportunities or re-entering the workforce will gain access to role-based learning and credentials designed for high-demand digital jobs. Talent curation executives at local self-government nodes will be trained to manage job stations, driving skilling initiatives at the block panchayat level.

All participants will have access to 40 virtual academies focused on key domains such as AI/ML, cloud computing, cybersecurity, creative design, logistics and supply chain, and digital marketing, online platform said.

Certifications from Google, IBM and other companies

The programme will give professional certificates from leading companies like Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Adobe, and Salesforce, designed to help learners from all backgrounds - regardless of degree or prior industry experience - gain the skills needed to launch their careers in just a few months.

Furthermore, Coursera and KKEM will also train over 1,000 mentors from across Kerala, including faculty, career counselors, and community leaders and will provide personalized guidance to learners, it added.

Four-day mentor enablement workshops will be held in Trivandrum, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kozhikode. Mentors will also receive career coach certification from Coursera via the Digital Workforce Management System (DWMS) portal, and will provide learners with consistent support on skilling opportunities, the platform further said.