MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, on Monday, met with representatives from Coursera at her East and Lamaha Streets office to discuss the next phase of collaboration under the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN).
The meeting focused on expanding access to education and skills training for women and young people across Guyana, through Coursera’s global online learning platform. The partnership aims to further strengthen WIIN’s mission of promoting empowerment through education, entrepreneurship, and workforce readiness.
Dr. Persaud, who first partnered with Coursera when WIIN became the first local initiative to take its programmes online, noted that the collaboration has already opened new pathways for women nationwide to access free, world-class training.
“Through Coursera, we’ve been able to bridge gaps in access and provide women with the tools they need to grow, thrive, and lead,” the Minister said.
The latest discussions explored new and innovative ways to use the platform to reach a wider range of beneficiaries, including women in business, entrepreneurs, and young job seekers preparing to enter the workforce for the first time.
Plans are also in motion to extend the reach of WIIN’s hybrid learning model beyond urban centres, with an emphasis on coastal, rural, remote, and hinterland communities. This approach aims to make education and empowerment more inclusive, ensuring that women from all regions of Guyana can benefit from globally-recognised certification and skill-building opportunities.
The Ministry and Coursera have committed to continuing their partnership to help more Guyanese, especially women and youth, gain the knowledge and confidence needed to participate meaningfully in an evolving, digital-first economy.