Discover Coursera’s 2025 Partner Award winner respects leading universities and companies’ innovation and excellence in online education around the world.
Transformative learning thrives through collaboration. Our partner ecosystem creates world-class educational content from more than 350 major universities and companies that attract millions of learners in over 190 countries.
At the 13th Annual Coursera Conference in Las Vegas on September 9, 2025, we celebrated six partners who demonstrated extraordinary achievements, creativity and commitment to learners’ success.
These partner awards ceremony are honorary agencies that leverage the Coursera platform to create innovative, high-impact learning experiences. From groundbreaking new education models to embracing cutting-edge AI technology, our 2025 winners embody the possibilities when their educational vision is in line with technical competence.
Let us meet the partners that shape the future of online learning.
Rising Star Award
The award celebrates a new partner who quickly demonstrates outstanding innovation and impact in his partnership with Coursera.
winner: Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University has had a direct impact on its Master of Computer Science degree, launching a revolutionary approach to higher education this year. Their program combines flexible, affordable design with performance-based admissions while pairing degree programs with free access to over 500 industry certificates. This innovative model provides a powerful example of an inclusive, career-aligned higher education that can meet where learners are and prepare them for where they are ready to go.
AI Innovation Award
The award recognizes a partner who uses AI tools to create more personalized innovative learning programs.
winner: Fractal
Fractals are redefining possibilities in online education through bold, future focus on previous innovations. As the first Coursera partner in content creation and digital cloning technology driven by harness AI, they set new standards for high-quality personalized learning. Through multilingual dubbing capabilities and skills-based learning pathways, fractals are creating a more accessible global educational future that can adapt to the needs and preferences of a variety of learners.
Participation in Excellence Award
The award recognizes an institution that cultivates creative, effective engagement strategies and drives a significant increase in learning participation and completion rates.
winner: Adobe
Adobe demonstrates the possibility of a partner when investing deeply in the complete learner journey. From discovery to progress, Adobe brings a bold, data-information strategy that truly centers learners in every step. Their global reach, innovative content design, and focus on meaningful outcomes create seamless, high-impact learning pathways that deeply attract learners and drive continuous engagement across diverse audiences.
Trail Blazers Award
The award celebrates a partner who has always pioneered new approaches to online education and continues to push possible boundaries.
winner: University of Illinois Gith School of Business
Gies Business School has been a pioneer since the beginning, launching his first degree program at Coursera and fundamentally reimagined higher education. Today, this spirit of innovation remains strong, demonstrated by the rapid adoption of AI tools and evolving content and learning experiences. Gies always demonstrates their deep commitment to accessible high-quality education while maintaining it at the forefront of educational innovation.
Vision and Value Award
The award recognizes a partner that embodies our shared values while promoting the future of learning.
winner: Duke University
Duke University embodies innovation with intention, principles and purposes. As deep-engaged members of the Coursera innovation team, they have helped shape our most promising new features. By strategically managing its Coursera portfolio, thoughtful content optimization, and data-driven, learner-first experiments, Duke ensures the future of online education is fair and transformative for learners everywhere.
Maximize Influence Award
The award celebrates institutions that have achieved significant results for learners, organizations or regions, including improved employability, enhanced learner competence and meaningful social impact.
winner: University
Since joining the Coursera community in 2015, the University of Los Andes has been a strong man. Five degree programs and nearly 100 public courses on Coursera, they attract learners on an unprecedented scale while embracing every major platform innovation. From new admission and credit strategies to early adoption of AI tools, universities have demonstrated a relentless commitment to experimentation and excellence in online education delivery.
These six partners represent the best choices that collaborative innovation can achieve in education. They change how we think about accessibility, engagement, and impact in online learning while maintaining a strong commitment to learners’ success.
For our partner community with over 350 major universities and companies: You are committed to creating world-class educational content that continues to provide opportunities for millions of learners around the world. Together, we have built an ecosystem in which quality education arrives within geographical boundaries and innovation is the fundamental goal of changing lives through learning.
Thank you for your partnership, vision and commitment to education excellence. This is to continue to cooperate through learning power to unlock human potential.
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