The UC Berkeley School of Information Partners with GetSmarter to Offer a Range of Technology-Focused Online Short Courses

BERKELEY, Calif., and CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU), a global leader in digital education, today announced a new collaboration between its wholly owned subsidiary GetSmarter and the UC Berkeley School of Information. GetSmarter is a leader in collaborating with top-tier universities to offer premium online short courses to working professionals. The UC Berkeley School of Information, better known as the I School, conducts research that explores the implications for individuals and society as information and digital technologies are increasingly embedded in all aspects of human experience. Its professional master's degrees prepare students to design and build the systems that will shape the way humans live and interact in the future. 

"We are thrilled to collaborate with the I School on our first GetSmarter relationship with an existing 2U university partner," 2U CEO and Co-Founder Christopher "Chip" Paucek said. "This unique partnership demonstrates our joint commitment to delivering on closing the skills gap and increasing access to education across the globe."

A recent PwC study found that by 2021, 69 percent of employers will give preference to candidates with data science and analytics skills, yet it is estimated that only 23 percent of educators say graduates will have those skills.

"Based in close proximity to the world's technology hub in Silicon Valley and San Francisco, UC Berkeley and the I School are proven leaders in educating the world's best data scientists and information professionals. Our new partnership is an unparalleled opportunity for GetSmarter to bring that expertise and track record to the global market through dynamic, in-demand short courses for working professionals," GetSmarter CEO and Co-Founder Sam Paddock said.

This partnership with the UC Berkeley I School will enable GetSmarter to work with world-renowned faculty to develop a diverse portfolio of technology-focused short courses using GetSmarter's highly-effective, people-mediated approach to online learning design.

"Our partnership with GetSmarter will allow the I School to educate and better prepare the next generation of working professionals around the world for jobs in the data-driven, global economy. By complementing our degree programs with graduate-level short courses, we can more rapidly respond to the changing demands of the workplace and more effectively meet the needs of students and professionals who are looking to develop critical data and analytic skills," I School Dean and Professor AnnaLee "Anno" Saxenian said.

The I School and GetSmarter plan to launch their first short course in October 2018.

GetSmarter delivers personalized coaching, iterative academic feedback from subject experts, and 24/7 technical support for students. Its course design heavily relies upon interactive features and student participation, allowing students to collaborate, share knowledge, and network professionally.

Be the first to know when the I School short courses go live by emailing
[email protected].

About the UC Berkeley School of Information

UC Berkeley's School of Information (I School) is a graduate research and education community committed to expanding access to information and improving its usability, reliability, and credibility while preserving security and privacy. This requires the insights of scholars from varied fields — information and computer science, design, social sciences, management, law, and policy. We bring together this diverse group of faculty to teach our four degree programs, two on campus and two online, and combine academic excellence with the intimacy and camaraderie that foster successful learning and discovery. Learn more at https://www.ischool.berkeley.edu

About 2U, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWOU)

2U partners with great colleges and universities to build what we believe is the world's best digital education. Our platform provides a comprehensive fusion of technology, services and data architecture to transform high-quality and rigorous campus-based universities into the best digital versions of themselves. 2U's No Back Row® approach allows qualified students and working professionals around the world to experience a first-rate university education and successful outcomes. Learn more at https://2u.com

About GetSmarter

GetSmarter, a wholly owned subsidiary of 2U, Inc., is an online education company collaborating with leading universities to present career-focused online short programmes. GetSmarter's high-touch, people-driven approach to online learning – centered around the importance of human support – has resulted in an aggregate completion rate consistently above 90 percent serving more than 48,000 participants over almost a decade. Learn more at https://www.getsmarter.com

Media Contacts: 
UC Berkeley School of Information  
Kristi Mitchell  
[email protected]  
+1 (510) 643-4206  

2U, Inc.  
Molly Greenberg  
[email protected]  
+1 (339) 927-5436  

SOURCE 2U, Inc.; UC Berkeley School of Information

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