EY and
Microsoft have launched Green Skills
Passport
— an educational initiative aimed at providing learners aged 16 and over with
the skills needed to pursue career opportunities in the growing “green” economy.
The free online program is part of an ongoing social-impact
collaboration
focused on sustainability and science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) upskilling for young people.
The International Labor Organization is forecasting the creation of 24
million sustainability-related jobs by
2030;
but according to a recent EY study, sustainability leaders at some of the
world’s largest companies reported the scarcity of talent trained around the
challenges of climate
change
at both operations and board level to be one of the largest barriers to
achieving their net-zero targets. Green Skills Passport will position learners
to thrive in this evolving market and provide non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) with a platform to empower underserved communities with new employable
skills.
Through a 10-hour virtual course, participants can work at their own pace and
learn about key topics including sustainability, entrepreneurship and skills for
employment. Green Skills Passport offers a detailed approach to skills
development — providing learners with EY-curated learning paths built and
delivered on the Microsoft Community Training platform.
EY and Microsoft have already launched successful Green Skills Passport pilot
programs in the United States, India and Bangladesh. Outcomes
include:
-
DEI and sustainability: The ROI of inclusive corporate cultures
Join us as leaders from the Accomplis Collective, Bard, Beneficial State Foundation, ReEngineering HR and REI share best practices for cultivating a culture of belonging and insights into how inclusive leadership can lead to more effective and equitable sustainability outcomes — Wednesday, Oct. 16, at SB'24 San Diego.
More than 1,400 course completions and certificates awarded
-
61 percent plan to apply for sustainability-related jobs
-
43 percent plan to enroll in a university degree in sustainability or take
more related classes.
"The collaboration between EY and Microsoft extends beyond a traditional
alliance — showcasing our shared dedication to generating social impact,” says
Andy Baldwin, EY’s Global Managing
Partner of Client Service. “These programs are a testament of our desire to
continue equipping young individuals with the skills they need to succeed in a
rapidly changing world."
Together, EY and Microsoft have collaborated on a multitude of programs to
empower job seekers with the skills needed for the digital future — furthering
EY Ripples’ ambition to
impact 1 billion lives by 2030 and Microsoft's focus on building a more
inclusive, equitable, sustainable and trusted future for everyone. On this
front, Microsoft has partnered with companies including LinkedIn — on a
skills-training
initiative
aimed at fostering a more inclusive tech workforce in the US, with a specific
focus on women and underrepresented minorities; and most recently with The
Crown Estate — on two Minecraft Education
worlds
that engage students on issues related to climate change and biodiversity; and
to consider careers in areas such as engineering, sustainability and
conservation.
Other high-impact EY-Microsoft social programs include:
-
Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact: A Microsoft program aimed to
accelerate the growth of impact-first, tech startups. EY and Microsoft ran a
series of four upskilling workshops on key growth challenges identified on
investment strategies, financial planning, ESG strategy and business
resilience.
-
Future Skills Workshops (FSW): An EY offering to equip young or
underserved groups with knowledge to navigate a changing world. The
workshops include a variety of topics including financial
literacy,
environmental sustainability and emerging technology. Microsoft and EY have
partnered with the nonprofit Trust for the
Americas,
which is disseminating FSW content across Latin America. Beneficiaries
in multiple LATAM countries can access training materials that are
available on Microsoft's Community Training
platform completing the workshops
in either classroom settings or virtually.
-
EY STEM App: An innovative, gamified mobile platform for girls ages
13-18 that aims to support the next generation of girls in
STEM.
The EY STEM
App
will host a channel with Microsoft
MakeCode, where users can develop
block-coding skills.
"We're proud to continue growing our collaboration with EY to offer these unique
programs that bridge the gap between education and employability,” says
[Jean-Philippe Courtois](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpcourtois/), EVP and
President of National Transformation Partnerships at Microsoft. “Through these
programs, we are taking steps toward social equity and empowering leaders of the
future."
Learn more about the EY-Microsoft Green Skills Passport here.
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Oct 13, 2023 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST