Telecommunications giant Verizon has announced it’s teaming up with edX, the global online learning platform developed in 2012 by Harvard and MIT, to offer free access to more than 250 courses in several high-demand areas such as artificial intelligence, business, coding, communication, data, finance, and IT.
Under the new partnership, participants will be given one year of free access to many of edX’s self-paced, expert-led online programs. That content will span 84 professional certificate programs, according to the announcement. The time required to complete a certificate varies by program, but some can be earned in as little as a month.
Verizon is covering the cost of the Verizon Skill Forward program, which will feature some courses offered in Spanish. Learners will also be given access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, which includes a set of career development tools; as well as Skills Builder, a tool that aligns an individual’s career goals with learning opportunities across courses and programs.
The partnership is part of Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsibility business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. As part of that plan, Verizon has pledged to prepare 500,000 individuals by 2030 for the jobs of the future, as well as “accelerate digital inclusion efforts nationwide through access to educational tools and resources.”
“When you make quality education accessible to all, you give individuals the freedom to pave their own path,” said Rose Stuckey Kirk, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer for Verizon, in the announcement. “Through Verizon Skill Forward, we remain committed to bridging the digital divide and providing access to opportunities for economic advancement in under-resourced communities across the country, from the moment a student enters a classroom, to the moment they embark on the pursuit of a career and higher education.”
The new learning portal is an attempt to addresses the continuing lack of skilled workers in many business sectors. For example, a recent report by the National Skills Coalition and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that 92% of jobs analyzed in the U.S. labor market required digital skills, but one-third of workers didn’t have the basic skills necessary to enter and succeed at those jobs. Investing in new, accessible educational pathways to close that skill divide can yield a large economic return for businesses, workers, and the overall economy.
“In an era where technology rapidly evolves and the nature of work continuously shifts, the need for lifelong learning and skills development has never been more crucial,” added Anant Agarwal, Founder of edX and Chief Platform Officer of 2U. “Together with Verizon, edX is expanding access to education, ensuring that everyone, irrespective of their background or current skills, can achieve their ambition. This collaboration is a testament to our shared belief in the power of high-quality online education to create a better future for all.”
More information about Verizon Skill Forward, including how to register, can be found at partnerships.edx.org/verizon.
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