- Each corporations are committing to remodeling and scaling AI skilling and studying for learners, employees and employers
- Pearson to additional profit from Microsoft Azure Cloud capabilities and AI instruments, together with rolling out Microsoft 365 Copilot throughout its workforce
- Microsoft to additional profit from Pearson evaluation and studying providers
LONDON and REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 14, 2025 — Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), the world’s lifelong studying firm, introduced a strategic collaboration on Tuesday to assist deal with one of many prime challenges going through organizations globally: skilling for the period of AI. The partnership will give attention to offering employers, employees and learners with new AI-powered services and products to assist put together the present and future workforce throughout industries for the period of labor in an AI-driven economic system. By combining Pearson’s experience in studying and evaluation with Microsoft’s cloud and AI applied sciences, this partnership will play a foundational function in serving to organizations notice the total worth of AI via reskilling.
A international IDC survey[i] discovered {that a} lack of expert employees is the most important problem for enterprises implementing AI expertise inside their organizations. The 2024 Work Development Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn additionally discovered that 66% of leaders say they wouldn’t rent somebody with out AI abilities. Pearson’s Expertise Outlook: Reclaim the Clock analysis exhibits generative AI will help U.S. employees save 78 million hours every week on the routine and repetitive duties that always fill their day and might result in burnout.
Rethinking reskilling to drive development
Given the pressing have to rethink studying and reskill employees, Microsoft and Pearson will collaborate in a number of methods, together with:
- Customized Studying at Scale: Pearson will energy its trusted and world-renowned content material, evaluation, upskilling and certification providers with Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing and AI infrastructure. This partnership will assist Pearson additional scale AI and expertise capabilities throughout the enterprise, increasing customized studying and AI-enabled providers to thousands and thousands of learners, at totally different levels of their studying journey, throughout the globe.
- Revolutionary Collaboration and Go to Market Alternatives: Pearson and Microsoft will launch a strategic collaboration geared toward serving to individuals construct AI proficiency and technical abilities via new AI credentials and certifications. Moreover, Pearson and Microsoft will collaborate on a sequence of copilots, brokers and AI instruments focused at serving to individuals develop abilities — corresponding to English language studying — and establish abilities gaps seamlessly whereas they work. These collaborations will allow joint innovation and go-to-market actions to drive development for Microsoft and Pearson.
- Investing in Know-how Pushed Careers: Microsoft will prolong its present partnership with Pearson VUE, a key supplier of Microsoft Cloud and Workplace certifications, via 2029. These certifications have already helped thousands and thousands of younger individuals, educators and employees put together for jobs that use Microsoft’s world-class expertise. This growth will open these important credentials to scores of further learners and employees across the globe.
- Powering the Pearson Workforce: After having piloted and examined Microsoft 365 Copilot, Pearson will broaden its use by deploying it to its international workforce. That is a part of an ongoing effort to introduce office AI instruments that improve effectivity, creativity, and productiveness and drive higher operational efficiency.
Pearson’s CEO Omar Abbosh, stated, “AI is driving a real revolution in schooling and work, and we should reinvent the way in which individuals be taught to satisfy this important second. Partnering with Microsoft means we will attain extra learners than ever earlier than. By mixing Microsoft’s AI management and Pearson’s trusted enterprise skilling and studying providers, we will carry enterprise learners exactly what they should forge forward of their careers and assist them notice the life they think about. This new chapter with Microsoft is one more means we’re constructing on our dedication to broaden AI in our merchandise and sharpen our give attention to the enterprise market. Importantly, it displays the chance forward for Pearson and the individuals we serve.”
Judson Althoff, govt vice chairman and chief industrial officer at Microsoft, stated, “The velocity and scale of immediately’s AI innovation current a chance for organizations throughout industries to speed up AI Transformation. As AI investments enhance, the demand for coaching and assist to allow efficient and accountable use of AI has by no means been larger. We’re thrilled to companion with Pearson to assist international enterprises develop studying experiences that empower staff with the AI abilities wanted to assist advance their careers and obtain extra.”
The partnership extends each Microsoft’s and Pearson’s personal efforts to offer AI skilling to individuals throughout the globe. In 2024, Microsoft and its companions educated and licensed over 23 million individuals in digital abilities. Pearson launched its Generative AI Foundations certification to equip professionals and college students with the important abilities wanted to work with gen AI applied sciences. Moreover, organizations all over the world use Pearson VUE, together with Pearson’s AI pushed Faethm functionality, and Credly badging to diagnose, assess and certify abilities. To be taught extra about Microsoft’s AI skilling sources, go to the AI Expertise Navigator web page.
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About Pearson
At Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L), our function is straightforward: to assist individuals notice the life they think about via studying. We consider that each studying alternative is an opportunity for a private breakthrough. That’s why our 18,000 Pearson staff are dedicated to creating vibrant and enriching studying experiences designed for real-life affect. We’re the world’s main lifelong studying firm, serving prospects in almost 200 nations with digital content material, assessments, {qualifications}, and knowledge. For us, studying isn’t simply what we do. It’s who we’re. Go to us at pearsonplc.com
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and instruments powered by AI to ship revolutionary options that meet the evolving wants of our prospects. The expertise firm is dedicated to creating AI obtainable broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower each particular person and each group on the planet to realize extra.
Contacts:
Microsoft Media Relations
WE Communications for Microsoft
(425) 638-7777
[email protected]
Sami Miller
Pearson Media Relations
[email protected]
[i] IDC InfoBrief: sponsored by Microsoft, 2024 Enterprise Alternative of AI, IDC# US52699124, November 2024
