ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM
(NYSE: IBM) today unveiled a groundbreaking commitment
and global plan to provide 30 million people of all
ages with new
skills needed for the jobs of
tomorrow by 2030. To achieve this goal, IBM is announcing
a clear roadmap with more than 170 new academic and
industry partnerships. The effort will
leverage IBM's existing programs and career building
platforms to expand access to education and in-demand
technical roles.
"Talent is everywhere; training opportunities are not," said
Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and
CEO. "This is why we must take big and bold steps to expand access
to digital skills and employment opportunities so that more people
– regardless of their background – can take advantage of the
digital economy. Today, IBM commits to providing 30 million people
with new skills by 2030. This will help democratize opportunity,
fill the growing skills gap, and give new generations of workers
the tools they need to build a better future for themselves and
society."
The difficulty employers worldwide face in finding skilled
workers poses a significant hurdle to economic growth. According to
the World Economic Forum (WEF), closing the global skills gap
could add US$11.5 trillion to global
GDP by 2028. To help do so, according to the WEF, the public and
private sectors need to collaborate on education and training that
keeps pace with market demands, demographic changes, and technology
progress.
A Program for Everyone
With diverse offerings and an adaptable approach, IBM's
education portfolio strives to be unique and effective, reflecting
IBM's understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach simply does
not work when it comes to education. IBM's programs range from
technical education for teens at brick-and-mortar public schools
and universities, and extend to paid, on-site IBM internships and
apprenticeships. The company's skills and education programs also
pair IBM mentorships with learners, and provide no-charge,
customizable online curricula to aspiring professionals.
IBM's plan to educate 30 million people relies on its broad
combinations of programs, and includes collaborations with
universities and key government entities -- including employment
agencies. Partnerships extend to NGOs as well, particularly those
that focus on groups such as underserved youth, women, and military
veterans. In general, IBM's efforts mobilize the private sector
across the globe to open and expand opportunity pathways for
underrepresented and historically disadvantaged
communities.
Examples include:
- In the United States, IBM will
expand partnerships with several new partners, including Workforce
Development Inc, National Association for Community College
Entrepreneurships (NACCE), and OHUB, to offer training on the IBM
SkillsBuild platform to successfully upskill, reskill, and best
prepare the workforce for the future of work.
- In India, IBM collaborates
with Haryana State Board of Technical Education, and Uttar Pradesh
State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), to
upskill youth from across the country.
- In Japan, IBM partners with
Osaka Municipal Government and Osaka Roudou Kyokai (NPO) to offer
SkillsBuild for Job Seekers in Osaka
Prefecture, helping them to obtain IT skills and earn
tech-related jobs. IBM's curricula include introductions to AI and
cloud computing, particularly for positions like help desk
specialist, web developer, and data analyst.
- In Latin America, IBM is
partnering with Junior Achievement Americas to provide IBM
SkillsBuild and IBM mentors to train women for web development and
programming careers.
- In Spain, IBM has partnered
with Agencia para el Empleo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid (Madrid Council Employment Agency) to
provide unemployed individuals with technical and professional
skills through IBM SkillsBuild. Some of the courses will include:
interpersonal skills, client engagement, web development and
cybersecurity.
- In Hong Kong, IBM partnered
with Vocational Training Council (VTC), the largest vocational and
professional education and training provider for learners of all
ages, to include IBM SkillsBuild as part of their core learning on
tech-related skills.
- In Nigeria, IBM partnered with
Coca-Cola HBC to skill youth on workplace readiness skills and
interpersonal skills.
- In Sweden, IBM is working with War Child to provide STEM
career readiness for women who have escaped war.
Said Martin Sundblad, Research Manager and Co-Lead,
European Skills Practice at IDC, "The digital transformation has
come to a point where it reaches into all processes, functions and
job roles across enterprises and organizations, and the need for
training becomes imperative for societies to adapt. Digital skills
development, albeit in different scale and form, is now required
throughout the education system, in most business functions, and
within the IT professional community in order not to jeopardize the
investments made. The IBM program has the size and reach that will
support this transition."
Learn more about this commitment, and the stories of IBM
skilling programs and participants, by going here.
About IBM & Education
IBM's longstanding commitment to education has long been core to
its corporate social responsibility initiatives. Ten years ago, IBM
launched its P-TECH program, a revolutionary public education model
designed to address the high-tech skills gap. Additionally, the
company has created upskilling and reskilling programs for
community members in every stage of their learning journeys. These
teach technical skills for job roles that involve cybersecurity,
quantum computing, cognitive AI, design thinking, and digital
marketing. They also offer and human-centered professional
workplace proficiencies for resume building, collaboration,
presentation, time management – even mindfulness. IBM offers these
with a mix of hands-on and virtual programs to reach people
wherever they are globally.
Media Inquiries:
Ari Fishkind
IBM Media Relations
fishkind@us.ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM