Online learning platforms have revolutionized the way we access education. In an effort to make the best of online learning available to all, edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, along with Jobs for the Future (JFF) and The Charles Koch Foundation, have launched the edX MicroBachelors® Program Pathway Initiative. This initiative is designed to provide adults without a traditional bachelor’s degree the opportunity to receive free MicroBachelors programs on edX and to apply for entry or mid-level roles that require fundamental tech or business skills without a degree.
Programs offered by the initiative include Statistics Fundamentals and Mathematics and Statistics Fundamentals from The London School of Economics, Marketing Essentials and Business and Professional Communication for Success from Doane University, and Full Stack Application Development from IBM. Anant Agarwal, Founder of edX & Chief Platform Officer of 2U, said: “By working with JFF and the Charles Koch Foundation, we are taking another significant step toward bridging the skills gap and democratizing access to high-quality education for all.”
Designed for adult learners, MicroBachelors programs are credit-backed, open-admission credential programs that offer industry-relevant skills in high-demand and emerging industries. Upon completion of a program, learners can use it as a standalone credential on resumes and LinkedIn pages, or apply the academic credit toward a full degree with the school of their choice.
The Charles Koch Foundation is supporting the initiative in two ways: by funding the cost of the MicroBachelors programs for 500 learners over three years, and by providing resources to JFF to develop a longitudinal efficacy study to measure the efficacy and efficiency of using MicroBachelors program credentials as criteria for recruitment.
Jobs for the Future (JFF) is a national nonprofit that drives the transformation of the US education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. JFF is sourcing and evaluating candidates for the program, and its long history of advocating for policies and systems that promote equal opportunity for economic advancement will help ensure the initiative’s success and lasting impact.
The edX MicroBachelors Program Pathway Initiative is part of edX for Impact – a collective effort to help marginalized learners get the education they need to develop the skills to pursue rewarding careers. To date, edX has launched 18 Access Partnerships with social entrepreneurs, corporate, Foundation, local, state, and government partners to remove the barriers that prevent people from reaching their potential.
Teachers know the importance of providing students with access to quality education. The edX MicroBachelors Program Pathway Initiative is an important step forward in making quality education available to all. By providing access to job-relevant skills and credentials, it is helping to bridge the skills gap and empowering adult learners to pursue their goals.
