OLAY will award $2 million in scholarships for students interested in the cosmetic sciences
By Marni Baker Stein, Chief Content OfficerCoursera
Today, OLAY is launching a new specialization, Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients, on Coursera. This is OLAY’s first specialization on our platform and is designed to educate students on the basics of skin care and encourage more students, especially women and women of color, to enter the field of cosmetic science.
Our partnership with OLAY comes at an important time for careers in STEM. As of 2023, the representation of women remains low, accounting for just over one quarter of the total STEM workforce. The new Cosmetic Science specialization is the first in a series of OLAY STEM specializations that reflect OLAY’s commitment to double the number of women in STEM and triple the number of women of color in STEM by 2030.
To support these efforts, OLAY and Coursera will provide $2 million in course scholarships over three years to anyone interested in cosmetic science. From 2024 to 2026, 5,000 recipients will receive a one-year subscription to Coursera Plus, which also includes more than 6,900 courses, as well as entry-level professional certifications and hands-on projects that teach business, technology and business-relevant data. scientific skills. Women and women of color are encouraged to apply.*
The new specialization is taught by OLAY cosmetic scientists, including Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, who has extensive experience in researching new skin and hair sciences. With a deep understanding of the needs of women’s skin and hair, Dr. Wilkerson’s work has been used to improve the formulas of Procter & Gamble’s most popular beauty products.
“OLAY is committed to positively impacting the development of STEM and supporting all women in STEM. That’s why we’re excited to partner with Coursera to make STEM education accessible to both current and prospective STEM students,” said Dr. Wilkerson. “Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast or someone considering cosmetic science as a career, anyone, anywhere can now learn the basics of skincare from OLAY scientists with the new ‘Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients’ course.”
Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients will introduce students to the history of the cosmetic industry while helping them understand the key ingredients in various cosmetic products and how they affect the biological structure of the skin. At the end of the program of four sequences, students will be able to understand:
- Skin physiology and how to make a skin model
- Skin care, skin problems and how to recognize effective skin care ingredients
- Fundamental approaches and best practices for creating innovative and sustainable cosmetic formulations
- Best practices and ways of implementing cosmetics quality control and safety methods
Participants who complete the program and apply for beauty roles at Procter and Gamble are encouraged to acknowledge their cosmetology certification during the application process.
With OLAY’s commitment to inclusivity in STEM, we are thrilled to welcome them to the Coursera partner community and join them in opening new doors to the cosmetic sciences.
Enter in Introduction to Cosmetic Science and Ingredients and get certified on Coursera.
*To be eligible for a scholarship, participants must be 17 years of age or older and meet one of the following conditions:
a. current high school graduate
b. recent graduate
c. college student interested in cosmetic science or skin care in an adjacent STEM field, including: life sciences, engineering, pre-med, and nursing
d. interested in transitioning to a STEM-related career
150 scholarships will be awarded in 2024; 1,500 in 2025; 3350 for 2026. Selection is based on the first number of people who meet the above requirements. Scholarships are open to all, but women are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be available in the coming months.