“Coursera Inc., a startup that specializes in bringing free university classes to the web, raised $16 million from venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and New Enterprise Associates.

Founded by two Stanford University computer science professors, Coursera is partnering with that school, as well as Princeton University, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania to offer classes in disciplines including computer science, medicine, literature and history. Kleiner Perkins partner John Doerr and NEA General Partner Scott Sandell are joining Coursera’s board of directors.”

You can read more about the funding on Businessweek and the Wall Street Journal.

And the following interview with the founders gets some of their insights on free education, online learning, and the use of data to drive teaching and business.