On January 14, 2025, Pearson and Microsoft announced a strategic multi-year partnership aimed at transforming the future of learning and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The collaboration seeks to address the global challenge of skilling in the age of artificial intelligence, providing employers, workers, and learners with AI-powered products and services. The goal is to prepare the current and future workforce across industries for an AI-driven economy.

By combining Pearson’s expertise in learning and assessment with Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies, the partnership is expected to play a crucial role in helping organizations realize the full potential of AI through reskilling.

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Addressing the AI Skills Gap

A global IDC survey revealed that a shortage of skilled workers is the biggest challenge for enterprises implementing AI technology. The 2024 Work Trend Index Annual Report from Microsoft and LinkedIn found that 66% of leaders would not hire someone without AI skills. Pearson’s Skills Outlook research shows that generative AI could save U.S. workers’ 78 million hours per week by automating routine tasks, reducing burnout.

Strategic Initiatives

The partnership between Microsoft and Pearson will focus on several key initiatives:

  • Personalized Learning at Scale: Pearson will enhance its content, assessment, upskilling, and certification services using Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing and AI infrastructure. This will enable Pearson to scale its AI and technology capabilities, offering personalized learning and AI-enabled services to millions of learners worldwide.
  • Innovative Collaboration and Go-to-Market Opportunities: The companies will launch a strategic collaboration to help individuals build AI proficiency and technical skills through new AI credentials and certifications. They will also work together on copilots, agents, and AI tools to assist people in developing skills, such as English language learning, and identifying skills gaps seamlessly.
  • Investing in Technology-Driven Careers: Microsoft and Pearson VUE, a provider of Office and Cloud certifications, will continue to work together until 2029. This expansion aims to provide vital credentials to more learners and workers globally, preparing them for jobs that utilize Microsoft’s technology.
  • Powering the Pearson Workforce: Pearson will roll out Microsoft 365 Copilot to all of its employees worldwide after a pilot program. This project is a component of a continuous endeavor to implement AI technologies that improve operational performance, productivity, innovation, and efficiency.

Broader Impact

The partnership is an extension of Microsoft’s and Pearson’s efforts to provide AI skilling resources globally. In 2024, over 23 million people received digital skills training and certifications from Microsoft and its partners. Pearson has also launched its Generative AI Foundations certification to equip professionals and students with essential skills in generative AI technologies.

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FAQs

Q1: What is the main goal of the Pearson and Microsoft partnership?

The partnership aims to address the global challenge of skilling for the AI era by providing employers, workers, and learners with new AI-powered products and services. This collaboration seeks to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven economy by combining Pearson’s learning expertise with Microsoft’s AI technology.

Q2: How will Microsoft and Pearson work together to achieve this goal?

Microsoft and Pearson will collaborate to create new AI credentials and certifications to help people develop AI proficiency and technical skills. Pearson will use Microsoft’s Azure Cloud and AI tools to personalize education plans for millions of learners globally. They will also work on AI tools and copilots to help people develop skills and identify skills gaps. Pearson will roll out Microsoft’s 365 Copilot AI tool to its global employees.

Q3: How does this partnership extend the existing efforts of Microsoft and Pearson in AI skilling?

In 2024, more than 23 million people received digital skills training and certification from Microsoft and its partners. Pearson launched its Generative AI Foundations certification to equip individuals with essential skills in generative AI technologies. The partnership expands these efforts by providing additional resources and certifications to assist businesses and employees in bridging skill gaps

Conclusion

Microsoft and Pearson’s multi-year strategic partnership focused on addressing the global need for AI skilling. Moreover, the partnership aims to provide AI-powered products and services to employers, workers, and learners, preparing them for an AI-driven economy. Pearson will leverage Microsoft’s Azure Cloud and AI infrastructure to scale personalized learning services and develop new AI credentials and certifications. In order to increase access to Microsoft Office and Cloud certifications, Microsoft will continue to cooperate with Pearson VUE. Pearson will also deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot to its global workforce to enhance efficiency and productivity. The partnership seeks to bridge the AI skills gap and drive growth by combining Microsoft’s AI technology with Pearson’s learning expertise.

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