Dubai: Coursera has launched the ‘Closing the Gender Gap in GenAI Skills’ playbook, a strategic guide designed to empower more women in Generative AI (GenAI). The playbook highlights key challenges and actionable solutions to foster gender inclusivity in AI, aligning with global and national efforts to create a more diverse and equitable digital economy.
Currently, women represent 32% of GenAI enrollments on Coursera globally, with the UAE figure at 23.8%, reflecting progress yet underscoring the need for further efforts. Despite a 900% surge in UAE GenAI course enrollments in 2024 and 56% female representation in government university STEM graduates, women hold only 11% of board positions, revealing a gap between education and professional leadership.
Dr. Alexandra Urban, Learning Science Research Lead at Coursera, emphasized: "A diverse and inclusive tech workforce is essential for innovation. While progress is evident, expanding opportunities for women in GenAI and equipping them with critical skills remains an urgent priority."
The playbook identifies key barriers limiting women’s participation in GenAI: Confidence Gaps: Women are 6x more likely to enroll in beginner GenAI courses than intermediate ones, highlighting self-efficacy challenges, Time Constraints & Unclear Career Pathways: Balancing responsibilities and unclear AI applications in careers deter women from advancing in GenAI and Perceived Lack of Relevance: Only 36% of women see GenAI as a career advantage, compared to 45% of men, signaling the need for real-world applications in sectors like healthcare and education.
Coursera’s initiative aligns with the UAE’s National Strategy for AI 2031, reinforcing the importance of increasing female participation in AI to drive the nation’s digital transformation. As the UAE ranks among the top 10 countries in AI companies per capita, enhancing women’s engagement in GenAI will be crucial in shaping the country’s AI-driven future.
