Analyst Project
Udemy Analysis Report
Introduction
As a Data Analyst specializing in Udemy's dataset, your mission is to transform raw data into valuable insights. The initial step involves cleaning and analysis of the provided data using SQL, ensuring that we are working with accurate and relevant information. Once the data is clean, your journey continues into data visualization with the Power BI.
For cleaning steps, you can access my github.
1.Overview
Possible explanations for this decline could include a drop in course quality, resulting in reduced student engagement and reviews.
Alternatively, the emergence of competitive online learning platforms like Coursera might be impacting Udemy's performance.
To gain a deeper understanding of this decline, it's important to consider both external factors and internal resources related to Udemy's course offerings and quality.
2.Paid or Free
Overall
- Over a span of five years from 2013 to 2017, paid courses consistently account for approximately 90% of all courses offered, with minimal variations from year to year.
- Between 2013 and 2014, the distribution of students between free and paid courses remains nearly equal, showing no significant difference during this period.
- However, starting from 2015 and extending through 2017, the number of paying students surpasses the number of students enrolling in free courses, indicating a shift in user preferences.
Trending
- In the 2015-2017 period, the average amount students are willing to pay for a course steadily increases. For instance, it rose from $48 per course in 2014 to $66 in 2015, followed by $69 in 2016, and eventually reaching $75 per course in 2017.
Analysis
- These trends suggest that Udemy managed to offer a higher quality of paid courses in 2015, which attracted more paying students. However, by 2016, it appears that the number of students enrolling started to decline.
- While the increase in the price of paid courses may have contributed to the decrease in students, the rate of price increase (5% from 2015 to 2016) does not seem significant enough to substantially impact the selection of courses by subscribers.
3.Subject
Out of 3,622 courses available, Web Development and Business Finance courses dominate, accounting for more than 65% of the total.
Web Development courses significantly outperform Business Finance in terms of subscribers and revenue, with over 8 million subscribers and $0.63 billion in revenue.
Although the number of Web Development and Business Finance courses is similar, the former has four times as many subscribers. In 2017, the prices of Finance courses caught up with Web Development courses, suggesting that Business Finance courses might struggle to attract learners or that they are priced too high.
4.Course's Levels
The course hierarchy on Udemy is categorized into four levels, with "All-Levels" being the most extensive, consisting of 1,925 courses, which is more than 50% of the total. Following this, we have "Beginner Level" with over 1.2 thousand courses and "Intermediate Level" with about 400 courses. Surprisingly, only around 58 courses are available at the "Expert Level."
"All Levels" courses have attracted a substantial user base of 6 million registered users, which accounts for over 50% of all subscribers. However, it's worth noting that the number of subscribers for these courses is declining rapidly, surpassing the growth trends seen in the three lower-level categories. This suggests that learners are leaving the Udemy platform, possibly because the advanced level courses no longer align with their learning progress.
Udemy's statistics indicate an increase in the number of Intermediate level courses, but the quality of these courses remains questionable. Moreover, the availability of Expert level courses is limited, which could further impact the platform's ability to cater to the needs of learners seeking more advanced education.
5.Final Comments
Over a span of five years from 2013 to 2017, Udemy experienced relatively stable growth. They expanded their course offerings across various fields, with an increasing number of paid courses that improved both in quantity and quality. Moreover, it's evident that students were willing to invest more in Udemy courses, indicating a positive trend.
Web Development courses and All-Level courses consistently remained the most popular and lucrative courses for Udemy during this period.
However, it's essential to note that from 2016 to the first two quarters of 2017 marked a significant setback compared to the same period in the previous year. This dip could be attributed to various factors, including the quality of courses not meeting students' expectations, the unauthorized replication and sale of courses on other platforms, or the emergence of strong competitors like Coursera.
🚩 So, I believe that Udemy should:
- Emphasize the development of high-quality courses in a wider range of subjects to attract a broader student base. This involves continually updating content to ensure it aligns with current learning needs and standards.
- Place a special focus on strengthening the Web Development course offerings, particularly in response to evolving trends in science and technology. Expanding into areas like Computer Technology and Data courses can help Udemy maintain its competitive edge and cater to the growing demand in these fields.
- Improve user feedback and rating systems to help students make more informed decisions about course selection. This can also help instructors gain valuable insights for course improvement.