MDHEWD honored for helping thousands of Missourians advance their careers through ski…

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development (MDHEWD) has been recognized for its efforts in helping Missourians enter and reenter the workforce, attain skills to improve job performance, and advance their careers. During Coursera Connect 2025 in Las Vegas, MDHEWD was presented the 2025 Coursera Outstanding Achievement Award in the Maximizing Impact category.

Thousands of Missourians each year complete courses that help them navigate their career journey, learn in-demand skills, and put them on a path toward success. During the past year, weekly Coursera enrollments and completions have increased by over 50 percent.

"We are honored to receive this award that accredits the work being done to elevate accessibility to education and training that produces successful outcomes for Missourians," said Dr. Bennett Boggs, Commissioner of the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development. "Our partnership with Coursera provides Missouri citizens opportunities to develop and enhance career skills at a pace that works with their personal schedules at no cost."

MDHEWD began partnering with Coursera in 2020 to offer displaced workers during the COVID-19 pandemic free online courses to skill up and qualify for high-quality jobs. The department has evolved continuously to expand training opportunities and best serve the needs of job seekers. This year, MDHEWD launched three new courses - Missouri Job Ready Day One, Basic Financial Literacy, and Job Search Skills & Success - to bolster individuals' job search readiness and foundational skills important to succeed in the workplace, as well as develop personal finance skills. Additionally, MDHEWD offers unemployed workers access to courses that empower them to excel in both their job search and job performance.

"This recognition helps celebrate the vast impact our partnership with Coursera has had on Missouri's workforce," said Julie Carter, Director of the Office of Workforce Development. "The skills needed to flourish in the workplace are constantly evolving, and MDHEWD continues to find opportunities to grow and advance to ensure Missouri workers are afforded modern learning opportunities."

Coursera offers more than 10,500 cutting-edge courses taught by top instructors from over 350 leading universities and companies. Missourians can visit jobs.mo.gov/coursera to gain access to free courses.