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Global professional services firm EY and tech giant Microsoft announced the launch of AI Skills Passport (AISP), a new free program aimed at addressing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills gap by providing young people with employable AI experience.
The new program forms part of a social impact collaboration announced between EY and Microsoft in 2022 aimed at upskilling young people and supporting the entry or re-entry of millions of people into the workforce or to build new businesses, with a focus on sustainability, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The social impact initiative aims to positively influence more than five million lives by 2025.
According to EY and Microsoft, the new program comes as research indicates that demand for AI skills in job postings has surged by 2,000%, while a recent EY and TeachAI survey, with support from Microsoft, indicated that the vast majority of Gen Z respondents did not feel fully satisfied with the preparation provided by their schools or employers for the implications and use of AI.
Gillian Hinde, EY Global Corporate Responsibility Leader, said:
“The EY and Microsoft collaboration is a powerful example of how organizations can come together to help drive meaningful social change and help shape the future with confidence. The AI Skills Passport program aims to equip young people and underserved communities with the AI experience needed to thrive in today’s digital age, while also sharing the skills necessary for tomorrow.”
The new program, targeted at students aged 16 and older, includes a free online 10-hour course, covering topics including the fundamentals of AI, ethical considerations and its applications across business, sustainability and technology careers, assisting students in learning about AI technologies, working with them, and applying them to various industries and careers. Students completing the course will receive a co-branded EY and Microsoft certificate of completion to help strengthen resumes, as well as access to a database of websites and resources to search for additional learning or employment opportunities.
EY and Microsoft said that the new program has been activated in countries including the U.S., UK, India, Italy, Greece, Belgium, South Africa, Ireland, Switzerland, Cyprus, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Sweden, and China, with plans to roll out additional countries through 2025, and to translate the program to five languages.
Kate Behncken, Global Head of Microsoft Philanthropies, said:
“Through this new initiative with EY, we’re helping young people build the AI skills they need to succeed in the evolving AI economy. By bridging the gap between education and employability, we’re creating opportunities for the next generation to contribute, innovate, and thrive in the new AI economy.”
The new program follows the launch in 2023 by EY and Microsoft as part of the social impact initiative of Green Skills Passport, a free online education program aimed at equipping young people with skills to gain sustainability skills to find green jobs and pursue green economy opportunities.