MOOC platform Coursera raises $43 million in funding

Coursera will soon double the number of its employees.

A growing backlash and simmering resentment among some faculty toward massive open online courses (MOOCs), coupled with low retention rates, means the technology’s future, and its ability to change higher education, is not yet certain.

But a handful of investors have enough faith in the much-hyped movement that they have just given more than $40 million to MOOC platform Coursera.

The funds come from GSV Capital, International Finance Corporation, Laureate Education, Inc., Learn Capital and venture capitalist Yuri Milner. Altogether, $43 million was raised during Coursera’s Series B funding.…Read More

10 state universities join Coursera in deals that could grant credit for MOOCs

SUNY and the University of Kentucky are among the new Coursera partner schools.

In a departure from its collaborations with more elite institutions like Stanford and Princeton, massive open online course (MOOC) provider Coursera announced Thursday that it was partnering with 10 state university systems and public flagship institutions.

The deals have the potential to transform Coursera’s content from the free online courses the company is known for to courses that could actually carry college credit.

“With this announcement, we take a step further in our goal to expand quality education to all,” Andrew Ng, co-founder of Coursera, stated in the announcement.…Read More

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