Microsoft and Pearson Partner to Transform AI Skilling and Learning
Microsoft Corp. and Pearson, the world’s lifelong learning company, have announced a strategic collaboration to help organizations address one of the top challenges facing them globally: skilling for the era of AI. The partnership aims to provide employers, workers, and learners with new AI-powered products and services 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, this partnership will play a foundational role in helping organizations realize the full value of AI through reskilling. A global IDC survey found that a lack of skilled workers is the biggest challenge for enterprises implementing AI technology.
Key Collaboration Areas
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Personalized Learning at Scale: Pearson will power its content, assessment, upskilling, and certification services with Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing and AI infrastructure. This will help Pearson scale AI and technology capabilities across its business, expanding personalized learning and AI-enabled services to millions of learners globally.
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Innovative Collaboration and Go-to-Market Opportunities: Pearson and Microsoft will launch a strategic collaboration aimed at helping people build AI proficiency and technical skills through new AI credentials and certifications. They will also collaborate on a series of copilots, agents, and AI tools targeted at helping people develop skills and identify skills gaps seamlessly while they work.
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Investing in Technology-Driven Careers: Microsoft will extend its current partnership with Pearson VUE through 2029, opening vital credentials to additional learners and workers worldwide.
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Powering the Pearson Workforce: Pearson will expand its use of Microsoft 365 Copilot across its global workforce to enhance efficiency, creativity, and productivity.
Pearson’s CEO Omar Abbosh stated, “AI is driving a true revolution in education and work, and we must reinvent the way people learn to meet this crucial moment. Partnering with Microsoft means we can reach more learners than ever before.”
Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Microsoft, added, “The speed and scale of today’s AI innovation present an opportunity for organizations across industries to accelerate AI Transformation. We are thrilled to partner with Pearson to help global enterprises develop learning experiences that empower employees with the AI skills needed to advance their careers and achieve more.”
This partnership extends both companies’ efforts to provide AI skilling to people globally. In 2024, Microsoft and its partners trained and certified over 23 million people in digital skills. Pearson launched its Generative AI Foundations certification to equip professionals and students with essential skills needed to work with gen AI technologies.
