Pearson joins UK drive to train 10 million in AI
Pearson has joined the UK's AI Skills Boost initiative, which aims to equip 10 million workers with AI skills by 2030.
Pearson has been named as a partner in the UK government's AI Skills Boost initiative, a programme designed to help 10 million workers develop AI skills by 2030.
The company will work alongside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and a group of technology and learning providers supporting the scheme. Existing partners include Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft.
The initiative forms part of the government's wider plans to increase AI adoption across the economy. Free online courses will cover topics ranging from AI literacy through to data science and machine learning.
Pearson said it will contribute its expertise in training, assessment and digital credentialling. The company's role will include helping learners demonstrate and verify AI skills gained through training programmes.
The announcement reflects a growing focus on workforce readiness as organisations move from experimenting with AI tools to deploying them at scale. Employers continue to report challenges in finding workers with the skills needed to implement and use AI effectively.
Sharon Hague, UK CEO of Pearson, said the partnership would draw on the company's experience in training provision, assessment and credentialling to support workforce development and strengthen employer confidence in AI-related skills.
AI Minister Kanishka Narayan said the programme is intended to help workers across the UK develop practical AI skills and support wider adoption of AI technologies by employers.
The government's target is to reach 10 million workers by the end of the decade. Courses will be delivered through government-backed online learning programmes and are intended to support both individuals and employers seeking to build AI capability.
The addition of Pearson expands the network of organisations involved in the initiative as the government seeks to accelerate AI skills development across the UK workforce.
Related to this story: Government expands AI training to reach 10 million UK workers