Still on the search for the right digital training courses provider? We’re here to help make that decision easier.
In this article, we compare General Assembly and Coursera. We’ll take a look at some of the key stats and the pros and cons of each. Ready to take notes?
General Assembly
The stats
- 80,000+ global alumni.
- 20,000+ expert instructors.
- 19,000+ hiring partners.
- 30+ campuses worldwide.
- Clients and hiring partners include Microsoft, Google, Condé Nast, Visa and L’Oréal.
Source: General Assembly
The pros
- Direct access to careers - General Assembly partners with thousands of industry organizations who’ll hire their graduates. It’s a win-win.
- Partnerships with industry professionals - Continuing on the previous point, partnering with organizations also means General Assembly has direct access to industry knowledge and experts.
- Individual and company subscriptions available - Offering a wide range of skills, payment methods and access levels.
- Fresh content - General Assembly is dedicated to updating courses at least twice a year, ensuring content and lessons are always up-to-date and of high quality.
- The right methods for your needs - There are various learning paths on offer, including full-time and part-time classes and workshops, provided both online and face-to-face.
Source: General Assembly
The cons
- Learn at your own pace - The face-to-face nature of General Assembly’s lessons, workshops and bootcamps make it difficult for self-paced learning.
- Reduced flexibility - Face-to-face learning is often scheduled, meaning learners may not be able to access training at a suitable time.
- It’s an expensive option - High-quality training comes at a cost, which may not be accessible for all organizations.
Coursera
The stats
- Collaborate with 200+ leading universities and companies.
- 87+ million learners.
- 7,000+ courses.
- Access to 100s of free courses.
- Partners include: Google, IBM, Imperial College London, Stanford, Penn and more.
- 237 partners across 57 countries, offering 9,750 courses.
- 87% of learners report career benefits.
Source: Coursera
The pros
- A learning schedule that suits you - Whether at home, work or anywhere else, Coursera is predominantly online and offers access to offline learning.
- A wide range of learning opportunities - Online courses, professional certificates and degrees are available through Coursera.
- A variety of content - There’s a wide range of courses available, from data and computer science to health and personal development.
- Free courses on offer - And it doesn't have to break the bank. There are many free courses available through Coursera.
- Industry and academic partners - Often it’s one or the other, but Coursera recognizes the value of both industry and academic knowledge and utilizes this in all of its learning.
Source: Coursera
The cons
- Pricing isn’t straightforward - There are lots of different levels available for both individuals and organizations, making the pricing matrix difficult to understand.
- Courses lack freshness - Digital development is constant and with a large library of content to update, Coursera may not be able to keep on top of it all.
- Level of assumed knowledge - Coursera is at the more advanced end of the spectrum, meaning the learning may not be suitable for beginners.
- Degrees come at a premium - Due to the level of training delivered, degree courses are expensive and may not be accessible to all organizations.
Which provider is right for you?
The truth is, only you can answer this question. While there are many positives to both General Assembly and Coursera, it’s about analyzing the results and deciding which provider best meets your organization’s needs.
There will be many factors to consider, such as price, online access, subject matter and more. It might be worth conducting an audit first. That way, you can determine your immediate needs, rank them in order of priority and then find a partner that best aligns with your overall goals.
Still on the search?
Our guide can help you reach your decision. Choosing the right digital skills provider gives you the rundown on what you need to know when choosing the right partner for your learning needs. In this guide, we discuss the different types of learning and showcase what we have to offer.
