EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY
Interplay Learning | February 16, 2023
On February 15, 2023, Interplay Learning, e-learning solutions provider for online and virtual training, launched a technology-based apprenticeship program with the Department of Labor's approval. This program solves the growing labor shortage and encourages employers in the skilled trades to join.
This program allows employers to enroll as participating employers in the Department of Labor's Apprenticeship Program of Interplay Learning. It will create a trained workforce, increase employee retention, and eliminate traditional managemental complexities of formal apprenticeship programs.
Employers can offer apprentices on-the-job training (OJT) with Interplay's digital training in a virtual classroom with technical instructions as a part of the program. The apprentices will have an impactful training experience with its video courses and 3D simulations. In addition, they will learn about new skills, effective troubleshooting, and practice in a virtual safe environment on any device like a laptop, desktop, tablet, or virtual reality headset.
Founder and CEO of Interplay Learning, Doug Donovan, said, "We're thrilled to introduce our innovative, tech-forward approach to apprenticeship." He added, "With one of the first digital and off-the-shelf solutions for apprenticeships, we seek to eliminate the pain points existing today for employers, while also providing them with a powerful training solution to address the skills gap problem in the U.S. What has traditionally been complex and especially daunting for small and medium businesses, we have streamlined the process to set up an apprenticeship program and given contractors a tool to build a better-trained workforce."
(Source – Cision PR Newswire)
About Interplay Learning
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Interplay Learning, an e-learning provider, has been offering digital learning simulations for training, career opportunities and life experiences of customers and employees, across industries like plumbing, electrical, solar and facilities maintenance, and HVAC, since 2016. Its virtual reality interfaces engage skilled trades workers with life-like experiences, making them more confident, professional, and efficient quickly. It provides learning solutions from beginner to mastery level at the same time. It was awarded the AL Breakthrough Award for Best Use of Virtual Reality for Enterprise Applications, AHR Expo – Innovations Awards 2020 and named in the 2020 Inc. Best in Business list.
Read More
ONLINE EDUCATION
edX | February 08, 2023
On February 7, 2023, Southern Methodist University (SMU) and edX, a major global online learning platform from 2U, Inc., announced a new partnership to boost SMU's current offerings in data science on edX.org. SMU plans to introduce two new Professional Certificate programs focusing on data science in the spring of 2023. In addition, SMU has renewed its contract with 2U for its online Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) program through 2027.
Since commencing its partnership with 2U in 2014, SMU has provided many online learning options that have played a significant role in the institution's ongoing strategic plan. The university also introduced a credit waiver last year that allows learners with a bachelor's degree to apply for credit towards the MSDS program after completing its data science boot camp available on edX. The addition of Professional Certificate programs gives students opportunities to acquire valuable skills.
Data scientists are in high demand in the United States. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, data scientist employment is expected to increase by 36 percent from 2021 to 2031, resulting in approximately 13,500 job openings annually. More than 500 students have graduated from the MSDS program to date, and over 1,400 students have cleared its data science boot camp.
Andrew Hermalyn, President of Partnerships at edX, shared, "edX and SMU are mission-aligned in recognizing the need for innovative and affordable educational programs that serve the evolving needs of learners and employers." He added, "As the need for data scientists continues to grow, programs like those offered by SMU will play a key role in developing, upskilling, and reskilling talent."
(Source – PR Newswire)
About edX
Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, edX is a global online learning platform designed to help all learners realize their full potential. The company has united over 40 million learners, many of the world's top-ranked universities, and industry leaders on a global online learning platform that assists learners at every stage. It provides thousands of open and free courses, professional certifications, boot camps, credit-bearing micro-credentials, and undergraduate and graduate degrees across several disciplines. The organization is ceaselessly working towards a world where every learner can access education, regardless of cost or location.
Read More
EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY, CORPORATE LEARNING SYSTEMS
Guild Education and Salt Security | March 17, 2023
Salt Security, the leading API security company, today announced that Guild Education, the leader in opportunity creation for America's workforce, has chosen the Salt Security API Protection Platform to secure its growing application programming interface (API) ecosystem. Guild relies on APIs for the exchange of private and sensitive student, employer, and school data across its Career Opportunity Platform. With the Salt platform, Guild gains automatic and continuous API visibility, insights into potential data exposure, and API runtime protection to ensure the safety of its customers' critical data.
"Guild supports workers, companies, and educational organizations to build new career opportunities and address increasing talent shortages. Keeping employee, employer, and school data secure has always been a top priority," said Julie Chickillo, VP, head of security, Guild Education. "The visibility we get with Salt eliminates blindspots, allowing us to better protect the critical and personal information – including employer eligibility updates, student loan reimbursement data, and program applications – being shared via our APIs."
Although Guild looked at other API security solutions, Salt provided the most actionable insights and the most mature platform. Leveraging the robust Salt API security platform, Guild gains:
Discovery of shadow APIs – to ensure a complete and accurate API inventory and understand what unknown APIs might exist that could pose security risks
Attack prevention – the most proven algorithms in API security to pinpoint attacker reconnaissance activity, even drawn out over days and weeks, and stop attackers before they reach their objective
API security testing – to gain vulnerability insights in pre-production, empowering the Guild development team to improve the security posture of its new APIs
The Salt Security platform enables organizations to catalog their APIs, see where they expose sensitive data, detect and block API attackers, scan and test APIs, and provide remediation insights that developers can use to harden APIs and improve the security posture over time. Through its patented API Context Engine (ACE) architecture, the platform can identify the early indicators of an attack, stop attackers from advancing and turn attackers into penetration testers, leading to valuable feedback for security teams to identify and eliminate API vulnerabilities.
About Salt Security
Salt Security protects the APIs that form the core of every modern application. Its patented API Protection Platform is the only API security solution that combines the power of cloud-scale big data and time-tested ML/AI to detect and prevent API attacks. By correlating activities across millions of APIs and users over time, Salt delivers deep context with real-time analysis and continuous insights for API discovery, attack prevention, and shift-left practices. Deployed quickly and seamlessly integrated within existing systems, the Salt platform gives customers immediate value and protection, so they can innovate with confidence and accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. For more information, visit https://salt.security/
About Guild
Guild's Career Opportunity Platform enables forward-thinking employers to invest in their employees, unlocking life-changing opportunities for personal and professional growth through education and learning programs, career development and one-on-one coaching. Guild partners with the nation's largest employers — including Walmart, Chipotle, Discover, Hilton, Macy's, Target and The Walt Disney Company — to create cultures of opportunity that will help them attract and retain top talent, and build the workforce of the future. Using Guild's Career Opportunity Platform full of real-world education and learning programs, employees at those companies can gain the skills, knowledge and guidance they need to build a brighter future for themselves and their families — all without paying for tuition or career services on their own. For more information, visit https://www.guildeducation.com/
Read More