The Paraguayan Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) has announced a new initiative, expanding access to the Coursera global education platform for secondary school students, studying science across Paraguay. Students in their second year of Bachillerato Científico are now eligible to participate in the programme, which offers free online courses with international certification.
The application period is open until August 15, and the MEC aims to increase the number of young people on the platform, which currently boasts over 17,000 secondary school students. This expanded initiative includes third-year students from schools that were not initially part of the Coursera rollout in April 2025. For the first time, it extends the opportunity to second-year students.
Courses in key areas
The Coursera programme provides 16 learning pathways, each comprising four or five courses. These courses average 28 hours in length and cover key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), software development, digital marketing, data analysis, and project management. Also digital transformation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, content creation for social media, sales, customer service, cybersecurity, and video game design are provided. Participating students can select pathways based on their individual preferences.
The initial phase of the programme focused on final-year secondary school students from over 800 educational institutions. The programme achieved 100% participation from schools in the Paraguayan departments of Boquerón, Canindeyú, Cordillera, Ñeembucú, and San Pedro.
Application process, and early results
Interested students can apply through the website Jovenesconectados website. The website provides a form that students can complete individually, or institutionally, with teachers or school administrators registering entire classes.
To date, over 3,600 students have completed at least one course, resulting in the issuance of more than 7,000 certificates. The most popular learning pathways include digital marketing, software development, entrepreneurship, and AI. Courses offered by Google, Meta, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, and universities like Yale, Duke, and the Autonomous University of Barcelona have proven particularly popular among students.
Essential skills development
Each learning pathway incorporates at least one course focused on AI, and one on soft skills, including public speaking, learning techniques, and time management.
The programme will culminate in an event called “Tour of the Future”, providing participants with insights into the working environment of leading companies that support the Jóvenes Conectados (Connected Youth) programme. The event will feature talks by entrepreneurs, industrialists, and other professionals, alongside practical workshops and networking opportunities.
This vocational guidance initiative aims to help students explore various career paths and make informed decisions about their future professions.
Read more: For students looking for bilingual schooling, Paraguay’s capital Asunción offers diverse opportunities for English language education. English-speaking schools in Asunción: an overview of academic options.
