New York offering courses on manufacturing, other topics in online platform

Courses in “Generative Design for Additive Manufacturing” and “Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design and Manufacturing Machine Learning” are among the options in a new online-training venue that New York State is offering. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Nov. 17 announced the launch of the free online-training platform. It seeks to help unemployed and underemployed New Yorkers “weathering the COVID-19 pandemic” to learn new job skills, earn certificates, and advance their careers “at no cost,” Cuomo’s office said in a release. 

The new tool will provide access to nearly 4,000 online programs taught by leading professors and industry professionals on Coursera, with a focus on high-growth and in-demand sectors like advanced manufacturing, technology, and health care, among others.

The new course offerings are provided through a partnership between the New York State Department of Labor and Mountain View, California–based Coursera, which calls itself “the world’s leading online learning platform.” 

New Yorkers can request a free account on the New York State Department of Labor website. 

The courses available through Coursera cover topics ranging from mechanical engineering and project management to technology and data-science skills. Many of these programs provide a pathway to professional certificates and other certifications that can help New Yorkers “elevate their careers or compete in a new industry,” Cuomo’s office said. 

The state Labor Department is working with stakeholders across the state to curate the content catalogue to respond to industry and regional needs, so that job seekers can easily find courses that will make them the most competitive for open positions across New York. 

“Training and retraining our workforce are critical when it comes to getting New Yorkers back on the job. New skills and expanded knowledge can provide more pathways to more jobs and help diversify our workforce — which is good for both workers and our businesses,” Roberta Reardon, New York State Labor Commissioner, said. “The New York State Department of Labor encourages New Yorkers to take advantage of this free learning opportunity by registering on our website.” 

The state will also partner with New York–based businesses to encourage their employees to utilize this free learning opportunity. By offering additional skills and training to their employees, employers can help meet the changing needs of the workforce and economy as the state emerges from the effects of the pandemic.

During the pandemic, Coursera has helped more than 330 government agencies across 70 countries and 30 U.S. states and cities support impacted workers with “job-relevant” skills training. Since the launch of the Coursera workforce recovery initiative, more than 1 million workers have enrolled in over 7 million courses to gain critical skills for jobs of the future, per Cuomo’s office.