edX Launches Try It Courses in High-demand Digital and Tech Skills

Rhea-AI Summary

2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU) has launched Try It courses on its edX platform, offering free 1-2 hour introductory courses in high-demand subjects like Python, UI/UX Design Thinking, and more. These courses allow learners to gain foundational skills and preview a topic before enrolling in full-length boot camps offered by partner institutions. This initiative aims to address skill gaps, with over half of employees requiring upskilling by 2025 according to the World Economic Forum. The courses include instructional content, practical exercises, and brief assessments, facilitating a low-risk exploration of new professional skills. Current partnerships include institutions like The Ohio State University and the University of Kansas, with plans to expand the course offerings over time.

Positive

• Launch of 'Try It courses' increases accessibility to high-demand skills.
• Addresses emerging skill gaps with over half of employees needing upskilling by 2025.
• Low-risk opportunity for learners to gauge interest in subjects before committing to full programs.
• Strategic partnerships with reputable institutions enhance edX's credibility.

Negative

• None.

Bite-sized courses give learners a free taste of online learning in career-relevant topics, creating new on-ramps to in-demand tech and business training programs

LANHAM, Md., April 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- edX, a leading global online learning platform from 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), today announced the launch of Try It courses: 1-2 hour free online introductory courses designed to give learners exposure to foundational skills in a variety of high-demand topics, such as Python, UI/UX Design Thinking, HTML, GitHub, and more. Now, learners can preview these skill areas for free before making the decision to enroll in a full-length program on the topic, such as a technical boot camp, offered by one of edX's partner institutions.

"edX is committed to creating meaningful, accessible on-ramps to online education opportunities offered by hundreds of the world's top universities and leading companies on edX.org," said Anant Agarwal, Founder of edX and 2U's Chief Platform Officer. "These courses are a low-risk way for millions of edX learners to explore new, in-demand professional skills and be connected to one of our partner's full-length programs if they wish to continue their learning journey."

According to the World Economic Forum, over half of all employees worldwide will need to reskill or upskill by 2025. In a recent study by IBM, 40% of respondents said the greatest barrier to professional skill development is knowing where to start. edX's Try It courses create opportunities for learners to gain familiarity with technical subjects and help ensure they are pursuing a journey that aligns with their individual goals before investing additional time and resources in full-length programs. Each course includes one hour of instruction and one hour of practical exercise, followed by a brief assessment.

Currently, Try It courses are designed as easy entry points into full boot camps offered with edX and in partnership with over 50 non-profit colleges and universities around the world. edX plans to launch additional Try It courses that connect learners with a variety of content  across edX's free to degree portfolio edX.org, including executive education courses. edX partner institutions, including The Ohio State University College of Engineering and University of Kansas Jayhawk Global, plan to launch Try It courses in the coming months. The Try It courses available today include:

• Try It: Intro to Design Thinking
• Try It: Intro to Python
• Try It: Explore Google Looker Studio
• Try It: Intro to Trello
• Try It: Zoom Basics
• Try It: Learn SQL
• Try It: Intro to Spreadsheets
• Try It: Intro to GitHub
• Try It: Finance Fundamentals
• Try It: Intro to Branding
• Try It: Learn Linux Command Line
• Try It: Cybersecurity Basics
• Try It: Intro to HTML
• Try It: Jira Fundamentals
• Try It: Fundamentals of Figma
• Try It: Asana Basics
• Try It: Intro to Google Analytics

About edX
edX is the global online learning platform that exists to help learners everywhere unlock their potential. edX was founded by Harvard and MIT in 2012 to make the world's best education available to everyone. Today, as a 2U, Inc. company (Nasdaq: TWOU), edX connects 48 million ambitious learners with the skills, knowledge, and support to achieve their goals. Together with the world's leading universities and companies, edX offers thousands of free and open courses, professional certificates, boot camps, credit-bearing micro credentials, and undergraduate and graduate degrees. Discover purpose-built online programs in technology, business, healthcare, science, education, social work, sustainability, and more at edX.org

Contact

Email: press@edx.org

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SOURCE 2U, Inc.

FAQ

What are the Try It courses launched by 2U, Inc. (TWOU)?

They are free 1-2 hour introductory courses on edX that provide foundational skills in high-demand subjects.

How do Try It courses benefit learners?

They allow learners to explore new skills at no cost before deciding to enroll in full-length programs.

Which institutions are involved in the Try It courses offered by 2U, Inc. (TWOU)?

Partner institutions include The Ohio State University and the University of Kansas, among others.

What subjects are covered in the Try It courses from 2U, Inc. (TWOU)?

Subjects include Python, UI/UX Design Thinking, HTML, GitHub, and finance fundamentals.

What is the goal of 2U, Inc. (TWOU) with the launch of Try It courses?

The goal is to provide accessible learning pathways in response to the increasing need for professional skills training.