2U

Yesterday we announced a difficult but necessary decision to secure 2U's future and strengthen our ability to fulfill our mission of making high-quality education accessible to learners worldwide. This decision, unanimously supported by the board, marks the path forward to financial stability. We've entered into an agreement with our debtholders that will reduce our debt by over 50% and provide approximately $110 million in new capital. To implement this transaction, we've initiated a "prepackaged" Chapter 11 process, which we expect to complete by the end of September. "For over 15 years, 2U has led the online learning industry in the delivery of innovative, high-impact education in partnership with an unmatched network of leading universities," said CEO Paul Lalljie. "The steps we are taking today will enable us to continue investing in our offerings, services, and world-class team to deliver unparalleled online learning to meet the needs of students today.” All programs will proceed as planned with no impact or disruption to learners or partners. We are confident these steps will position 2U to better serve our mission for years to come. More information regarding this announcement can be found here: https://lnkd.in/e3GRYMjE

🌍 We’re expanding global access to programs on edX through a partnership with e& UAE. Earlier this month, e& UAE announced the launch of GoLearning, an innovative AI-powered eLearning platform offering over 10,000 courses, including 4,000+ free options. Anant Agarwal, Chief Academic Officer, 2U and Founder, edX, said: “Online education has the unmatched power to democratize knowledge, bridging borders and breaking barriers. By joining e& UAE’s eLearning initiative, we're unlocking a universe of opportunities for learners through world-class programs on edX on topics from AI and computer science to leadership and sustainability, from top institutions and industry leaders worldwide. In today's interconnected world, platforms like GoLearning become crucial bridges, connecting global talent to high-quality educational resources. Through this collaboration, we aim to propel learners toward rewarding careers, nurture their most transformative ideas, and be the spark that ignites global innovation.” Check out e& UAE’s press release to learn more: https://lnkd.in/dfPCWmyt

🌟 Celebrating a Milestone: Over 100,000 Student Placements 🌟 2U has reached a major milestone: facilitating over 100,000 placements for students in our university partners’ online programs in healthcare and education. These placements provide essential hands-on training and prepare students for successful careers in high-demand fields. Jessica Wang, SVP of Student Experience at 2U, reflects on this milestone: "Our journey in building 2U’s placement network started with a simple belief—that education transforms lives and communities. We’re committed to finding the right opportunity for each student to grow, learn, and ultimately thrive in their chosen field." Our extensive placement network spans all 50 states, ensuring that students can complete their in-person training hours within their communities. This milestone underscores 2U’s commitment to addressing workforce shortages and supporting the development of skilled professionals. Learn more about our impact and how we’re bridging critical workforce gaps: https://lnkd.in/e5mZHEZt #OnlineEducation #WorkforceDevelopment

🌟 Expanding Our Partnership with Pepperdine University 🌟 We’re excited to expand our partnership with Pepperdine University to launch six new online degree programs in education and healthcare. These programs, including a Master of Science in Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching, three doctoral programs in education, and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology, are designed to tackle pressing workforce shortages and provide high-quality training for aspiring professionals. “Our partnership with 2U has been transformative, allowing us to extend our mission of purpose, service, and leadership into the digital realm. These new programs will enable us to serve a broader array of students and prepare them for meaningful roles across these critical sectors." – Dr. Farzin Madjidi, Dean of Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology. 2U and Pepperdine’s partnership now includes 12 online degree programs. Since our collaboration began in 2017, over 7,000 learners have enrolled in these programs. These new degrees will further our mission to equip students with the skills and experiences needed to succeed in high-demand fields like education and healthcare. Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejaxnT4v

Did you know that searches for “AI” last year increased 114% YOY on edX, making it a top 5 search term on our global online learning platform? For more interesting data on the progress we’ve made in meeting the world’s demand for AI learning, read Anant Agarwal's latest article. #NoBackRow

edX has been named to Fast Company’s 2024 World’s Most Innovative Companies! This award spotlights our work in online #artificialintelligence education programs and platform technologies, and reflects our efforts to transform online learning to make it more personalized and available to learners worldwide. Read more 👉 https://bit.ly/493BhS3 #NoBackRow #FCMostInnovative

🎓“Education can be borderless.” 🎓 In a thought-provoking Times Higher Education piece, Tim Dunne, provost and senior vice-president of the University of Surrey, discusses the critical role of online education in providing equitable access to high-quality learning. Highlighting the partnership between the University of Surrey and 2U, Dunne offers key insights for utilizing digital platforms like edX to bridge educational gaps worldwide. Read more about Dunne’s perspective on the transformative power of online programs. 👉 https://bit.ly/3VfHl6A #NoBackRow

In a compelling conversation with Campus Technology’s Mary Grush Anant Agarwal, founder of edX and Chief Platform Officer at 2U, delves into the evolving landscape of lifelong learning 🎓. As the working world rapidly transforms, the traditional education model is shifting to embrace continuous, adaptable learning opportunities. At 2U and edX, we're at the forefront of this change. By offering a diverse range of courses in partnership with top institutions, we're empowering individuals to align their education with evolving professional and personal goals. Our recent initiatives, including new AI-focused programs, AI-driven tools and our Career Resource Center, demonstrate our commitment to equipping learners with relevant skills for today's dynamic job market. Check out the full article to learn more about how we are shaping the future of education and supporting learners at every stage of their journey  👉 https://twou.co/4b24Jdt

🎉 We’re thrilled to announce the appointment of Andrew Hermalyn to President of 2U’s Degree Program Segment and Aaron McCullough to President of 2U’s Alternative Credential Segment. These new positions create clear lines of accountability for the business as we sharpen our focus on delivering profitable growth with world-class learning outcomes. From our CEO Paul S. Lalljie: “These appointments mark another important step in streamlining our organization as we focus on refining our business model to deliver products profitably with great outcomes for our learners, partners, and shareholders. Together, Andrew and Aaron embody a leadership ethos that prioritizes collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.” Learn more 🔗 https://twou.co/4aLN7SI

As 2023 draws to a close, edX founder Anant Agarwal took some time to reflect on the year. With AI dominating conversations across industries, 2023 was a year of rapid innovation and excitement, especially in the edtech space. From AI learning assistants to championing new models to expand affordability, discover how we pushed on toward our #nobackrow mission in 2023: https://twou.co/486ZqHI