Scrum.org partners with Coursera for product ownership

Scrum.org has partnered with Coursera to offer its training courses on the online learning platform. The first package is the Professional Scrum Product Ownership Specialization.

The Specialization combines three self-paced courses for Product Owners, product managers, business analysts, and related professionals. It covers Product Owner fundamentals, Product Backlog management, and stakeholder collaboration for Scrum teams.

The launch is aimed at meeting demand for training that helps professionals manage product direction, stakeholder expectations, and changing business needs, while extending Scrum.org's reach through Coursera's global learner base.

The three courses use reading materials, videos, quizzes, and interactive decision-making exercises based on workplace scenarios. Learners can complete the programme over days, weeks, or months, depending on their schedules. Those who finish each course receive a Career Certificate through the platform.

Course focus

The first module, Professional Scrum Product Owner Fundamentals, introduces the Scrum framework and examines the Product Owner role, including work with Scrum teams, stakeholders, and the wider organisation. It also covers product vision, strategy, and goals.

The second, Professional Scrum Product Backlog Management Skills, focuses on creating, refining, and ordering a Product Backlog, linking Product Goals to delivery work, and engaging stakeholders. It also includes material on how artificial intelligence can complement Product Backlog management practices.

The third course, Effective Stakeholder Collaboration for Scrum Teams, centres on communication and relationship management rather than process alone. It covers stakeholder identification, trust building, empathy, and conflict navigation.

Effective Stakeholder Collaboration for Scrum Teams was created by Professional Scrum Trainers Glaudia Califano and David Spinks and endorsed by Scrum.org. The wider Specialization is the first public offering under the new partnership between the two organisations.

Platform reach

For Coursera, the deal adds another industry training provider to a catalogue that includes courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees. Founded in 2012, the company has built its business around online access to academic and vocational learning for individuals, employers, and institutions.

The agreement also follows Coursera's combination with Udemy, a move it said created one of the world's largest skills development platforms. That gives content partners such as Scrum.org exposure to a broader audience seeking training in business and technology subjects.

Scrum.org was founded by Scrum co-creator Ken Schwaber and provides instructor-led and self-paced training alongside certification programmes. Its model is built around Professional Scrum education for learners ranging from beginners to experienced practitioners.

The new Coursera offering reflects a wider trend among specialist training organisations to distribute content through large online platforms rather than only through direct channels. For learners, that can make niche professional education easier to find alongside broader business, software, and management courses.

Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera, said the new Product Ownership training responds to changes in how organisations develop products and make decisions, and linked the role of Product Owners to broader shifts in innovation and customer expectations.

"We're excited to welcome Scrum.org to Coursera and make its trusted training accessible to millions around the world," said Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content Officer at Coursera. "As organizations use AI to accelerate innovation, Product Owners play an increasingly important role as they balance evolving customer needs, business priorities, and stakeholder expectations. This new Specialization helps learners build the skills and confidence to navigate that complexity."

Dave West, Chief Executive Officer at Scrum.org, said the launch broadens access to Product Ownership education for professionals using Coursera.

"Product Ownership can be very overwhelming and complex with the ultimate focus of delivering valuable products to customers," said Dave West, Chief Executive Officer at Scrum.org. "We are delighted to expand access to these three valuable training courses to the Coursera online learning platform to help Product Owners, product managers and those in related roles on their learning journey strengthen their Product Ownership skills. This new collaboration gives Coursera learners the opportunity to experience Professional Scrum self-paced training and we look forward to adding more in the future!"