Universidad Privada del Norte boosted graduate employability with Coursera
- Industry:
University
- Location:
Peru
- Size:
100,000+ Students
- Topics:
Tech and Data, Learning Program Management, Measurement and Outcomes
Overview:
Universidad Privada del Norte (UPN) recognized the need to continuously enhance and adapt its educational programs to keep pace with the rapidly evolving demands of the global job market. It partnered with Coursera to enhance select courses and improve student employability by helping them develop relevant skills for the modern job market.
Improving graduate employability with practical skills
Like many forward-thinking institutions, UPN understood the importance of evolving its educational programs to meet the dynamic needs of the global job market. While the university had a strong foundation, it aimed to further enhance teaching quality, enrich the curriculum with practical, applicable skills, and elevate the graduate profile, ensuring students remained highly competitive and well-prepared for their professional careers.
Enhancing curricula with industry course content
UPN addressed its educational needs by partnering with Coursera to develop a comprehensive solution aimed at enhancing its curriculum. UPN integrated industry skills content into the university’s courses, covering subjects such as International Economics, E-business and Web Analytics, Strategic Planning, and Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. A dedicated academic team of five specialists meticulously aligned the course structures with UPN’s syllabi, facilitating a seamless integration process. To support students effectively, the team provided video support conferences at strategic intervals (weeks 1, 8, and 16) and maintained continuous support through digital channels such as WhatsApp and online consultation rooms.
To ensure a balanced and comprehensive evaluation of student competencies, course assessments were distributed strategically, with 60% of activities conducted on the Coursera platform and the remaining 40% through final assessments on UPN’s Blackboard LMS. This dual-platform approach leveraged the strengths of both systems to deliver a robust and enriched educational experience, ultimately fostering a higher quality of learning and better preparation for the global job market.
Empowering students and faculty with enhanced skills
UPN successfully enrolled 1,434 students in key courses, with enrollment rates doubling in just one week, from 500 to 1,000, highlighting the effectiveness of UPN's communication strategies. By the end of the 16-week semester, 84% of students had earned at least one Professional Certificate. UPN's innovative approach led to outstanding student satisfaction, withcourses such as E-business and Web Analytics received a perfect satisfaction rating of 5, and Strategic Planning rated 4.55. These results validated UPN's decision to integrate Coursera content, demonstrating their commitment to student engagement and quality education.
The university's investment in faculty development also paid off significantly. Faculty also benefited from the new course options. In 2023, 66 faculty members participated in Coursera courses, achieving an 87% completion rate. Building on this success, UPN expanded the initiative in 2024, resulting in 419 faculty members completing 429 courses. This comprehensive faculty upskilling contributed to an impressive 80% student satisfaction rate for faculty (ESA), further cementing UPN's reputation as a leader in innovative education.
Impact Snapshot
2x
enrollment in Coursera in one week
419
faculty members completed 429 courses in 2024
5.0
satisfaction rating given to the E-business and Web Analytics course