Banco Santander has announced a partnership with Coursera to offer free online training to 50,000 adults across 13 countries. The initiative aims to improve employability by providing access to more than 80 courses focused on skills that are currently in high demand, such as artificial intelligence, leadership, innovation, data-driven decision-making, marketing, and languages.
Participants will have one year of free access to these courses, which are developed by universities and experts. The courses include practical exercises and provide certificates upon completion. Applicants do not need a university degree or be Santander customers to apply for the program. Registration is open until December 9 through the Santander Open Academy platform.
According to Ramón Rodríguez, Global Head of Santander Open Academy:
"Among the findings of Banco Santander’s Tomorrow’s skills report, based on a survey of 15,000 people in 15 countries, eight out of ten participants feel the need to continue broadening their skill set, which paints a new picture where lifelong learning is the cornerstone of career development. Against this backdrop, digital learning platforms are increasingly becoming a go-to option."
Santander has invested over EUR 2.4 billion in education, employability, and entrepreneurship initiatives over nearly three decades. Through agreements with almost 1,100 universities and institutions worldwide (https://www.santander.com/universidades), it has supported more than 3.7 million people and businesses.
Coursera was founded in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller with the goal of making world-class learning accessible globally. As of June 30, 2025, Coursera reports having 183 million registered learners and partnerships with over 350 universities and industry leaders. Its platform offers various credentials including courses and degrees in areas like GenAI, data science, technology, and business.