EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Coursera | January 18, 2023
On January 17, 2023, Goodwill Industries International and Coursera announced a collaboration to create the Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate. The very first certificate of its kind will provide educational content developed from 120 years of Goodwill's history of industry expertise to those who are pursuing a career in workforce development and career navigation.
This self-paced course enables development and learning for Goodwill coaches and career navigators by leveraging the power of Coursera's cost-effective online platform. Workforce development resources and tools are also provided to the Goodwill navigators and coaches to enable them to better assist job seekers across the U.S. and Canada. The online training, based on the expertise and experience of local Goodwill career services teams, prepares professionals for employment in the emerging career coaching and navigation profession.
Career counselors and navigators help over one million people find jobs, education, and necessary support service, playing an essential role in Goodwill's mission. Accessible, career-focused learning courses that lead to professional certificates help job seekers find good jobs, earn a living wage, and boost local economies. Aspiring professionals who are looking to upscale their skills and enhance workforce development, including Goodwill's nonprofit and community partners, can benefit from the Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate.
Chief Mission Officer of Goodwill Industries International, Martin Scaglione, said, "Goodwill provides career services to help individuals facing barriers reach their potential through the power of work. Employers in local communities find Goodwill to be a trusted source for talent," He further mentioned, "The Goodwill Career Coach and Navigator Professional Certificate not only benefits career services professionals and employers, but most importantly it is a game changer for the individual they both serve, by opening access to opportunity.
(Source – GlobeNewswire)
About Coursera
Launched in 2012 by Stanford Computer Science professors Daphne Koller and Andrew Ng, Coursera's mission is to offer universal access to top-notch learning. With 102 million registered learners as of March 31, 2022, it is one of the world's largest online learning platforms. Coursera collaborates with over 250 leading industry partners and universities to provide a diverse collection of professional certificates, courses, guided projects, specializations, and bachelor's and master's degrees. Coursera is employed by organizations worldwide to reskill and upskill their employees, students, and citizens in areas such as technology, data science, and business.
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
UnifyWork | November 15, 2022
UnifyWork announced today the launch of its workforce intelligence platform, the first of its kind in the market. Its patented skills-based technology powers local talent networks by coupling the market demand for skills development with equitable hiring to remove the barriers associated with the traditional labor market. A Harvard-Accenture study in 2021 found that there are more than 27 million hidden workers who could work or find better work, but are not considered by the current methods of talent acquisition and development in the U.S. These hidden workers already have, or could acquire the skills needed to succeed. However, there is a siloed system of skills-based education and training in the U.S. that is misaligned, and UnifyWork is fixing it.
UnifyWork's platform replaces the time-consuming resume and application process with a brief assessment that identifies job seeker skills and interests. The platform's skills-based matching algorithm then presents select in-demand jobs – including detailed job descriptions and pay ranges – that align with the candidate's unique abilities and preferences. By leveraging UnifyWork to fill job openings, employers gain access to an untapped talent pool of prequalified candidates that will not find them on traditional job boards. The platform also masks candidate identities until a match between the employer and job seeker is made - minimizing bias in the hiring process. Beyond connecting employers and candidates for the careers of today, UnifyWork is helping ensure the long-term viability of full employment in the region. With UnifyWork, educators, workforce and economic development organizations can get real-time insights on job supply and demand, and assess opportunities to upskill or re-skill talent to meet current and emergent needs, addressing the historic labor shortage head on.
"Across the state, Ohio is creating jobs faster than employers can find people to fill them, and we welcome solutions like UnifyWork that have the ability to match Ohioans with meaningful careers, while supporting local business owners and entrepreneurs, It is critical for companies and institutions from both the public and private sector to collaborate on promoting transparent and impactful hiring practices, and this platform will work to generate a more robust and accessible labor market for all of Cleveland."
Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted.
UnifyWork is the fourth breakthrough technology company founded in Cleveland by local tech entrepreneur, Stephen McHale. With his deep experience in big data, machine learning, and leveraging supply chain workflow models, he and his team are determined to transform hiring for good. I love Cleveland and wanted to create a technology that would benefit everyone," said McHale. "That might seem overly ambitious, but I want to support individual and collective thriving in our area. Nothing touches everyone quite the way that work does, whether you are a job seeker, an employer, educator or a professional in workforce or economic development - you care about people being in the right work for their lives. In celebration of its launch, UnifyWork is welcoming its most active users, employers and partners to attend their exclusive launch event on December 7th at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Attendees will hear from community leaders, and walk away with two tickets to an upcoming Cavaliers game, with a chance to win courtside seats.
About UnifyWork
UnifyWork is the first workforce intelligence platform powering regional talent networks through its patented skills-based technology. The platform enables more equitable hiring practices, and provides real-time data on job market supply and demand to help regions unleash their full economic potential. Headquartered in Cleveland, OH, UnifyWork is a spin-out of Unify Labs, a 509(a)3 non-profit founded in 2017, with the mission of powering inclusive prosperity.
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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Interplay Learning | February 01, 2023
On January 31st, 2023, Interplay Learning partnered with Dominium Management Services to provide highly effective, engaging, and scalable training solutions. Interplay Learning is an effective and scalable training solution for engaging maintenance technicians. Dominium, an affordable housing developer, owner, and manager, offers Interplay's training solutions to its technicians of all levels of experience.
With Interplay Learning's experiential, on-demand training courses and skills evaluations, Dominium provides maintenance associates with realistic 3D simulations and training content designed to develop their internal technical skills. In addition, the company offers a robust, just-in-time training curriculum to more than 350 employees across 230 communities, with a diverse catalog of technical courses and custom learning paths tailored to each employee's skill level and property needs.
After using Interplay, Dominium has seen a decrease in ramp times, an increase in internal promotions, and a rise in technician confidence. In addition, cutting-edge training contributes to Dominium's ability to establish a competitive advantage.
By creating and managing high-quality, reliable, affordable homes that lay the groundwork for more vibrant neighborhoods, Dominium contributes to the solution of the affordable housing crisis. The availability of inexpensive housing in their area is a problem, according to almost 90% of American adults. A recent survey also reveals 6.8 million fewer affordable rental housing units than needed in the nation.
Interplay's customers can train and practice hands-on learning from a desktop, phone, tablet, or in virtual reality by utilizing immersive learning technology, resulting in a highly trained employee who is rapidly prepared for employment.
About Interplay Learning
Since 2016, Austin-based Interplay Learning has improved the training, careers, and lives of skilled workers. Its award-winning online and VR training for the essential skilled trades—HVAC, electrical, solar, plumbing, multi-family maintenance, and facilities maintenance—is scalable and more effective than traditional methods. The platform creates immersive VR scenarios for skilled trades workers to learn effectively, resulting in a confident, highly skilled workforce. Interplay Learning has earned Best Use of Virtual Reality for Enterprise Applications from AI Breakthrough Awards and the AHR Expo – Innovations Awards 2020.
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