Throughout 2021, with the ongoing prevalence of online learning and remote work, online courses continued to be the preferred mode of education for students and professionals. Coursera’s report highlighted that machine learning, Python, and data analytics emerged as the most sought-after courses among Indians during the year, with enrollment numbers on the eLearning platform serving as the basis for this observation.
In terms of soft skills, the English for career development course maintained its popularity as the top choice in India. The top 10 courses overall among Indians included machine learning, programming for everybody (getting started with Python), foundations: data, English for career development, financial markets, HTML, CSS, and Javascript for web developers, introduction to psychology, foundations of user experience (UX) design, among others.
Interestingly, the financial markets course secured the top spot as the most subscribed business course on Coursera in 2021. Moreover, the inclusion of “Financial planning for young adults” by the University of Illinois in the top ten list indicated a growing interest in financial markets and investment advisory roles.
Udemy’s report on emerging trends for 2022 highlighted a surge in demand for technical skills like Next.Js, Python scripting, and Terraform in India. Irwin Anand, MD of Udemy India, emphasized the significance of continuous learning in the evolving workplace, noting that staying relevant in the future workforce requires individuals to embrace lifelong learning. He stressed the importance of practical, skill-based learning to adapt to the dynamic nature of work, enabling professionals to stay updated and make informed decisions in their respective fields.
