New Delhi [India] July 29 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Udemy, a leading online learning platform, has released its inaugural “ESG Impact Report: Improving Lives Through Learning.” The report showcases Udemy’s positive impact on society since its establishment in 2010, highlighting the opportunities for growth that online education has provided during the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to assist individuals, communities, and organizations worldwide in acquiring marketable skills for future success. As of May 2022, the Udemy online education marketplace has 52 million learners and 68,000 instructors.
“Access to high-quality education not only benefits individuals, but also businesses, communities, and societies,” said CEO Gregg Coccari. “During a time of increased market volatility and growing inequality globally, we are proud that our platform enables experts from around the world to improve their own lives by teaching online while also enhancing outcomes for individuals and organizations everywhere.”
Udemy’s impact strategy is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and focuses on three key pillars:
– Providing Quality Education: Udemy is committed to improving the lives of people around the world by providing equitable access to learning opportunities and investing in lifelong learning for individuals at home and in the workplace.
– Advancing Talent, Global Expertise, and Economic Opportunity: Udemy helps organizations of all kinds prepare for the constantly changing future of work by empowering employers to develop in-house expertise and meet employees’ desire for learning and development.
– Fostering Diversity and Inclusivity: Udemy offers a platform for upskilling and pursuing learning paths that open up career opportunities regardless of prior formal education or location.
Highlights of Udemy’s ESG initiatives featured in the report include:
– As of Q4 2021, over 49 million people worldwide have been empowered to improve their skills using the platform.
– The platform has expanded digital learning opportunities across borders, with almost 80 per cent of learners located outside the U.S. having access to over 185,000 courses in more than 75 languages, which can be purchased using 28 currencies.
– In 2021 alone, 4.4 million new students from 187 countries joined the platform, representing a 38 per cent increase.
– The platform has enabled over 64,000 instructors, a 14 per cent increase from 2020, to share their expertise with individuals and organizations worldwide. In total, Udemy instructors have earned USD 177 million, helping them to support themselves, their families, and their communities.
– In 2021 alone, there has been an almost 80 per cent increase in Udemy Business learners as more organizations foster a culture of learning in the workplace.
– The platform offers over 19,000 free courses and allows instructors to distribute millions of coupons globally, encouraging individuals to try their courses for free. As a result, over 10 per cent of the platform’s usage is for free courses.
– Over 200 non-profit customers have been served, consuming over 58,000 hours of learning – a 230 per cent increase in hours consumed in 2021 compared to 2020.
– In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Udemy launched the Udemy Free Resource Center, which offers over 700 free courses covering essential tech skills, personal growth, and wellness. This has resulted in 4.6 million enrollments and 883,000 hours of educational content consumed.
In addition to aligning with the UN SDGs, the report was developed with guidance from the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), a global framework for sustainability reporting.
Udemy has been recognized as a leader in ESG and sustainability by influential third parties such as Sustainalytics, Great Place to Work, and Fortune. To learn more about Udemy’s ESG practices, visit https://about.udemy.com/esg-at-udemy/.
This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India)