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 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

SOME EXAMPLES OF P-TECH EXPANSION DURING THE LAST YEAR

ARGENTINA

Fe y Alegria – Centro Educativo nº 8171,  Solidaridad – Salta

BRAZIL

CPS – ETEC Carapicuíba
CPS – ETEC de São Sebastião
CPS – ETEC Dona Escolástica Rosa
CPS – ETEC Dr. Geraldo José Rodrigues Alckmin
CPS – ETEC Heliópolis
CPS – ETEC Prof. Eudécio Luiz Vicente

CANADA

Unama’ki, Cape Breton, NS

COLOMBIA

Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Distrital Jose Maria Velaz
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Samaria/Diego Maya Salazar
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Distrital Aluna
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Distrital Quinto Centenario
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Juan Francisco Sarasti Jaramillo
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Los Colorados
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Minuto de Dios Policarpa Salavarrieta
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Tecnica Antonio Narino
Fe y Alegria – Institucion Educativa Tecnica Bicentenario
SENA – Servicio Nacional de Aprendizajem

ECUADOR

Fe y Alegria – La 40 – Guayas
Fe y Alegria – La Dolorosa – Quito
Fe y Alegria – Oscar Romero – Francisco de Orellana

ITALY

Liceo Scientifico Moscati (Grottaglie, Taranto)
IIS Celestino Rosatelli (Passo Corese, Rieti)
Istituto tecnico Economico Luigi di Savoia (RIeti)
Liceo Scientifico e Classico Carlo Jucci di Rieti
Istituto Corese (Rieti)

JAPAN

Tokyo Metropolitan Machida Technical High School
Kanagawa Technical Senior High School
Mito Technical High School  

KOREA

Gyeonggi Hancom AI School
Gyeonggi New Collar School

PHILIPPINES

The Department of Education National Capital Region Public Schools (DEPED NCR)

POLAND

Zespol Szkol Elektronicznych Radom

THAILAND

Thonburi Vocational College
Pathumthani Vocational College
Intrachai Commercial College
Nakhon Ratchasima Technical College

UNITED KINGDOM

Ada Lovelace High School

UNITED STATES

Abraham Lincoln High School (CO)
Poudre High School Manufacturing P-TECH (CO)
Raptor Tech P-TECH (CO)
P-TECH Carver STEAM Academy (GA)
Akins Career Launch  (TX)
Education P-TECH Academy at Polytechnic High School (TX)
Biotechnology And Life Sciences Innovative Academy Early College High School (TX)
HERO Collegiate Academy (TX)
Dunbar P-TECH Early College High School (TX)
Medical Professions P-TECH Academy at North Side (TX)
Fabens Wildcat P-TECH (TX)
Rio Hondo High School (TX)
South Hills High School (TX)
Carter-Riverside High School (TX)
Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School (TX)
La Vega High School (TX)
Coronado High School (TX)
Travis High School (TX)
Rochester Public Schools -535 (MN)
Trenton Central High School (NJ)
Ellenville Central School District (NY)
Freeport Union Free School District (NY)
Niagara Falls City School District (NY)
Port Richmond High School (NY)
P-TECH at Lewis J. Bennett School of Innovative Technology (NY)
New Horizons High School (WA)

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

ARGENTINA

Argencon & Ministério de Educación (CABA)

BRAZIL

Prefeitura de Santa Maria

CANADA

The Learning Partnership

CHILE

Inacap
INJUV – Instituto Nacional de La Juventud

COLOMBIA

Corhuila
Secretaría de Educación de Bogotá

CZECH REPUBLIC

Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic
Czechitas
Mendel University in Brno

ECUADOR

Universidad San Francisco de Quito

EGYPT

Education for Employment

GERMANY

Start-Stiftung

HONG KONG

Vocational Training Council (VTC)

INDIA

Haryana State Board of Technical Education
Uttar Pradesh SCERT ( State Council of Educational Research and Training )

INDONESIA

Yayasan Dicoding Indonesia

IRELAND

Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet
BITC Ireland
Fastrack into I.T. (FIT)

JAPAN

Osaka Roudou Kyoukai
Osaka Municipal Government

LATIN AMERICA

Junior Achievement Americas
Laboratoria

MALAYSIA

Politeknik Balik Pulau

MEXICO

Universidad Panamericana

MOROCCO

Education For Employment

NIGERIA

Coca-Cola HBC

NORDICS

Young Scientists
War Child

PHILIPPINES

Resources for the Blind

PERU

UTEC Peru

RUSSIA

Moscow State Budget Vocational and Educational Institution “Vorobyovy Gory”
Autonomous Noncommercial Organization for Vocational Education “International Information Technology Academy “IThub”
Foundation Charitable Advisory “Social Navigator”
National Council on Corporate Volunteering

ROMANIA

Asociația “Viitor Plus” (“Future Plus” Association)
Asociația Pro Artă Dezvoltare și Cunoaștere (Pro Art Development and Knowledge Association)

SOUTH AFRICA

National Youth Development Agency

SPAIN

Agencia para el Empleo del Ayuntamiento de Madrid
Asociación Eslabón Iniciativas para la promoción de empleo
Fundación Secretariado Gitano

THAILAND

Saturday School Foundation

TURKEY

Borçelik Technical Academy
Cevdet İnci Education Foundation
Mehmet Rıfat Eyvap Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School

UNITED KINGDOM

The British Refugee Council

SOURCE IBM