A Nuclear Industry Manager Reignites His Passion for Philosophy

There are numerous career topics and practical skills to learn on Coursera, but there are also many opportunities to dive into a personal passion. That’s what UK-based learner Dean W. found when he enrolled in Coursera Plus, a subscription that offers access to over 10,000 courses from leading universities and companies. “I have truly enjoyed the range of subjects offered on Coursera,” he said. “I've had the opportunity to study a variety of topics, from anthropology to particle accelerators.” 

Dean has been working in waste management for over 25 years. In 2021, he achieved chartered status—a professional qualification in the United Kingdom that formally denotes expertise in a particular field—in the nuclear industry, and has recently turned his attention to earning a second chartered status in sustainability management. “I consider sustainability management to be one of the greatest challenges of our era, and as a sustainability coordinator in the nuclear sector, we encounter a variety of technical challenges that need to be addressed,” he explained. 

Dean turned to Coursera to take courses that aligned with his career goals, hoping to “stretch and strengthen” his learning muscles so he’d become a stronger student. But he also happened to rediscover older interests, like philosophy. “During my younger years, I was captivated by philosophy,” he said. “To my surprise, I continue to be interested in it and have had the chance to explore it again.” 

The surprise of learning on Coursera

He enrolled in the University of Edinburgh’s course Know Thyself - The Value and Limits of Self-Knowledge: The Examined Life and Dartmouth University’s Question Reality! Science, Philosophy, A Search for Meaning Specialization, among other programs. “Coursera served as a conduit,” Dean said. “It sparked my curiosity and nourished my spirit.” 

With his work schedule, it can be challenging to dedicate time to learning, but Dean finds ways to make trade-offs. “It has become a good alternative to watching mindless TV shows,” he said. By making an effort to keep his mind engaged in more productive ways, Dean has strengthened important workplace skills, such as critical thinking and problem-solving. 

Coursera sparked my curiosity and nourished my spirit.

Learning for the sake of learning has also provoked his natural curiosity. “Some of the courses have led to moments of deep introspection,” he said, “while others have just been a welcome opportunity to learn something new.” 

What will you discover on Coursera Plus? 

Whether you want to dive into a passion, develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 self-paced courses from over 350 top universities and companies. 

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial