GENERATIVE AI (GenAI) courses have seen an increase in demand over the past year, especially among millennials.
Based on a report by Coursera in its sixth annual Global Skills Report, there is an 806 per cent year-over-year increase in enrolments in GenAI courses among Malaysians.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Malaysia ranks 12th in skill proficiency, and in Southeast Asia, Malaysia ranks fourth, followed by Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines and Myanmar.
Supported by initiatives like the National AI Roadmap 2021-2025 and AI Talent Roadmap 2024-2033, Malaysia aims to strengthen its AI ecosystem through training and research collaborations.
Coursera said among the key GenAI courses gaining popularity in Malaysia include Google Cloud's Introduction to Generative AI, Google AI Essentials and Generative AI for Everyone by DeepLearning.AI.
"These courses underscore Malaysian learners dedication to keeping pace with technological advancements, bolstering the nation's global digital competitiveness."
Millennials
Coursera said in Malaysia, GenAI adoption is generational, with millennials leading the reskilling race at 48 per cent, followed by GenXers at 32 per cent and GenZ at 16 per cent.
It said this trend shows that middle to senior management is driving the initiative to reskill, as evidenced by significant enrolments in GenAI courses across various age groups and occupations: directors (25 per cent), managerial leadership roles (22 per cent), senior individual contributors (20 per cent), junior individual contributors (18 per cent), executive management (6.0 per cent) and interns (5.0 per cent).
"The soaring demand for GenAI courses by Malaysian learners on Coursera underscores their resilience and forward-thinking spirit needed to thrive in a world driven by rapid technological shifts," said Coursera Asia-Pacific managing director Raghav Gupta.
"As the GenAI revolution unfolds, it is impacting the ever-changing job landscape, emphasising the need to invest in human capital.
"Malaysia showcases a robust synergy between industry, academia and government to nurture the high-demand digital and human skills required to build a competitive and equitable workforce."
Reasons for demand
Among the reasons cited for the increase in demand for GenAI skills include:
1. Rising demand for industry micro-credentials for digital jobs: The report highlights a 97 per cent year-on-year increase in enrolments for Professional Certificates among Malaysian learners, underscoring the trend that individuals are increasingly turning to online micro-credentials to secure new jobs and advance their careers.
2. Diverse and inclusive learning demographics: Malaysia's learning community is impressively diverse and inclusive, with women constituting 46 per cent of the total learner population. In science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, women account for 34 per cent of learners, highlighting their growing presence in traditionally male-dominated areas. However, in GenAI-related courses, men represent 71 per cent of learners and women 29 per cent of learners.
3. AI literacy emerging as a global imperative in the wake of ChatGPT: GenAI course enrolments on Coursera surged by 1,060 per cent globally over the past year as learners sought foundational AI skills and enrolled in courses like "Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT" by Vanderbilt University and "Introduction to Generative AI" by Google Cloud.
4. Micro-credentials continuing to prepare learners for in-demand digital jobs: Learners are increasingly turning to industry micro-credentials, including professional certificates, to gain essential digital skills for jobs.
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