New partnership offers free online learning courses to Minnesotans

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced it is partnering with Coursera, an online learning platform, to offer free courses to Minnesotans.

The partnership is through the Coursera Workforce Recovery Initiative, which aims to provide unemployed workers with online courses.

DEED said it is working directly with Coursera to create accounts for Minnesotans and provide immediate online access to courses. Minnesotans will have full access to the training through March 2021.

Any Minnesotan who has applied for unemployment insurance in 2020 and has an account on uimn.org will get an invitation to sign up for Coursera, DEED said. Other interested Minnesotans can sign up to receive access here.

"Providing access to free online courses is an important way that DEED is rethinking our service delivery in light of the COVID-19 pandemic," said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. "Whether you're out of work or considering a career shift, this partnership with Coursera provides a unique and timely opportunity to earn certifications in high-demand jobs and industries at no additional cost."

"The pandemic has affected millions of workers in the United States, including many hard-working Minnesotans," added Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera. "Coursera is honored to partner with the state of Minnesota to equip workers with job-relevant skills taught by leading educators like the University of Minnesota."

Full access to Coursera typically costs about $400 per year.