Pearson Launches Online Workforce Education to Address Skills Shortage in High Demand, Industry-Based Jobs

MIAMI, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearson, the world's leading learning company, today launched a comprehensive suite of online workforce training courses for community colleges, four-year postsecondary and private sector institutions.  The announcement was made at the American Association of Community Colleges' 19th Annual Workforce Development Institute in Miami.

Pearson offers customizable, modular online courses for training geared toward high demand, industry-based jobs such as healthcare, information technology, project management and supervision.  The instructor-led courses may be provided either fully online or in blended learning environments and can be used in any learning management system (LMS).

Course content is based on clear lesson objectives with validated learning outcomes and assessments.  Courses are created by a team of respected subject matter experts, faculty advisors, course authors and e-learning instructional designers.  Professional development is available with Pearson's Online Instructor Education program.  A library of eight online courses is available to assist instructors with teaching techniques and methods critical to the success of online learners.

Pearson's courses are created exclusively with college-based workforce education programs in mind.  By being modular and customizable, Pearson is enabling workforce education program managers to offer courses that match the specific employment needs of their local area. This puts program managers in control of course offers and helps them to keep pace with the needs of local employment conditions and opportunities. 

"Local colleges are the anchors of communities across the U.S.  They're often the first stop for displaced workers and those who want to enhance their skills and land a better job," said Leah Jewell, President of Health Science and Careers at Pearson Higher Education.  "Our courses are designed as a partnership to support these unique local needs with flexible, customizable learning options.  We've been overwhelmed by the positive reception to our course offers among the workforce education community and are committed to making a deep and lasting contribution to helping place more people in high-demand jobs." 

"Quinsigamond Community College is pleased to partner with Pearson to equip individuals with the skills that reflect the demands of a 21st century economy and the realities of a global workforce," said Kathleen Manning, Dean of the Training & Education Center at Quinsigamond Community College.  "The curriculum is both timely and designed for immediate application in the workplace – a key success factor for our corporate partners. The fact that these workforce development courses can be offered completely online or in a blended approach makes it easy for us to offer a variety of options to the industries looking to partner with us to meet their workforce development needs."

For more information, visit www.pearsonworkforceeducation.com.

About Pearson
Pearson, the world's leading learning company, has global reach and market-leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO). The company provides innovative print and digital education materials, including personalized learning programs such as MyLab/Mastering; educational services including custom publishing; and content-independent platforms including the EQUELLA digital repository and Pearson LearningStudio online learning platform.

Media Contact: Susan Aspey, [email protected] or (800) 745-8489

SOURCE Pearson