Coursera has become the premier online learning platform to be granted the Authorized Instructional Platform designation by the American Council of Education (ACE©), recognizing its commitment to academic integrity, security, and the rigor of its learning environment. This accreditation also enhances the market value of industry-authored courses and credentials on Coursera that have earned ACE© credit recommendations.
“In a rapidly changing world, learners and institutions seek assurance that their investment in online learning is worthwhile, focusing on three key aspects: high-quality education and training from trusted sources, an engaging learning experience, and recognition and value from employers and universities,” stated Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera. “The ACE Authorized Instructional Platform designation serves as a strong endorsement of the quality, rigor, and integrity of the online learning experience embedded within every assessment, course, and credential offered by the world’s leading universities and companies on Coursera.”
As an Authorized Instructional Platform, Coursera adheres to ACE’s rigorous standards for psychometric accuracy, technology proficiency, and information security in its assessment framework, course design, and teaching and learning experience. This designation also ensures that courses endorsed with ACE credit recommendations elsewhere will maintain their recommendations when transitioned to the Coursera platform.
“ACE’s collaboration with Coursera is increasingly pivotal in ensuring that non-traditional learning and industry training meet the rigorous standards necessary for academic recognition,” remarked Ted Mitchell, President of ACE. “By furnishing a consistent and trusted framework for evaluation and credential recognition, we bridge the gap between industry and academia, expand credit-bearing learning opportunities across higher education systems, and equip large student populations with skills for future employment.”
ACE Credit Recommendations streamline the process of awarding and obtaining academic credit for skills training and online learning. In addition to assessing platform experience, ACE evaluates non-traditional learning content, such as online courses and industry micro-credentials, and provides recommendations on the number of academic credits that higher education institutions may award for each. Currently, over 25 Professional Certificates and Specializations on Coursera, offered by leading companies like Google, IBM, Meta, and DeepLearning.AI, have earned ACE or European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credit recommendations.
ACE credit recommendations offer several benefits for learners:
– Simplifying the process of earning academic credit for courses completed outside of traditional academic institutions. For instance, learners who finish the Google IT Support Certificate can directly share their digital transcript with ACE credit endorsement via the Credly platform for approval by their local university.
– Accelerating progress towards obtaining a comprehensive credential such as a degree. For example, certain degrees from Illinois Institute of Technology available on Coursera acknowledge credit for 15 certifications or Specializations. This enables eligible learners to commence learning even before enrolling in the full degree program.
– Validating that the educational investment made by learners is recognized and valued by the market.
For institutions, ACE credit recommendations provide the following advantages:
– Offering assurance that online learning programs meet quality standards, thereby enhancing employer trust and confidence in the value of credentials and the skills of job applicants.
– Streamlining the recognition of credits for job training and career credentials that may not typically be offered on campus. For instance, universities within the University of Texas System are integrating industry micro-credentials into their on-campus degree programs for credit.
– Breaking down barriers to degree pathways to reach a broader student population. For example, Empire State University (SUNY Empire), which evaluates and accepts credit for prior learning for ACE credit-recommended courses, collaborated with the New York State Department of Labor to enable unemployed New Yorkers to transfer credits from eligible Coursera courses into any of their 125 bachelor’s and associate degree programs.
