IBM (NYSE: IBM) unveiled a ground-breaking 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.
In Malaysia, IBM and Politeknik Balik Pulau (PBU) recently announced a collaboration to establish the IBM SkillsBuild@PBU Learning Institute.
The collaboration, a first of its kind for IBM in Malaysia, is expected to benefit nearly 800 students at PBU annually. This collaboration would also serve the need for industry-relevant high-value talent in the Northern Corridor of Malaysia, especially Penang.
The IBM SkillsBuild@PBU Learning Institute would create new learning pathways for students and help them understand how their coursework, field experience, and the future workplace are connected.
“Talent is everywhere; training opportunities are not. 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,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO.
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.
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.
