From Career Upskilling to Lifelong Learning: A Q&A with 2U's Anant Agarwal
Here, we explore the partnerships and technologies that will keep learners connected to their education.
As educators we're increasingly aware that our students will need to extend their education far beyond graduation. Many will broaden and update their professional interests; some may switch fields entirely. CT talked with Anant Agarwal, founder of edX and chief platform officer at 2U, about these trends and how edX supports individual learners.
Anant Agarwal, founder of edX and chief platform officer at 2U (Photo courtesy 2U)
Mary Grush: Thank you for being here to speak with us today. We've talked before about major trends in technology for education — most recently discussing generative AI in higher education. Today I'd like to explore with you one of my favorite topics: lifelong learning.
We know that edX is a great platform for learners to access education resources that will help them build the knowledge they need now. How would you describe the way edX serves individual learners?
Anant Agarwal: At 2U, we are committed to making high-quality education accessible to everyone, everywhere. Our edX platform serves individual learners by offering a diverse range of courses that cater to various needs — whether it's someone enrolled in higher education, a professional seeking career advancement, or an individual pursuing a personal passion. We partner with the world's top institutions like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Google and focus on providing learner-centric, flexible, and affordable educational content and credentials — empowering learners to take control of their education and align it with their personal and professional goals.
As an example, when it became clear that generative AI would rapidly reshape the future of work, edX moved quickly to equip our global learner network with the knowledge and skills they need not only to meet the moment but thrive in the era of AI. Leveraging our vast scale and expertise in cutting-edge technology to deliver strong learner outcomes, we mobilized some of our forward-thinking university and corporate partners to create a comprehensive portfolio of online AI learning programs. edX now has 450-plus courses and programs that include AI/Machine Learning (ML) content, such as free Intro to ChatGPT and Prompt Engineering courses, AI bootcamps, and even full AI degrees.
Grush: What are some of the broad trends in society that indicate a need for change in our education models? Does higher education move quickly enough to respond to the changes in society? Can edX help bridge the gap?
Agarwal: If today's fast-changing world has taught us anything, it's that every learner is different, and a one-size-fits-all approach to education no longer works. We also need a better way to learn new skills, faster. We recently did a survey that found that executives estimate that nearly half (49 percent) of the skills that exist in their workforce today won't be relevant in 2025. Long gone are the days when the only option was to get a college degree early in your career and then work for the rest of your life.
Executives estimate that nearly half (49 percent) of the skills that exist in their workforce today won't be relevant in 2025.
Today, we need to be learning and upskilling continuously in smaller chunks with a lifelong learning mindset. When universities and employers shift from that either-or mindset of the past to a modular and stackable approach to education, they embrace "AND thinking" and champion the unique needs of all kinds of learners. At 2U, we're focused on helping our partners respond quickly to societal changes by establishing a continuous education model that is more flexible, accessible, and offers courses that are immediately relevant to current industry demands, providing learners with the skills they need to thrive in today's dynamic world.
Today, we need to be learning and upskilling continuously in smaller chunks with a lifelong learning mindset.
Grush: What are some specific ways in which 2U can partner with industry to support upskilling and career development opportunities on its edX platform?
Agarwal: We offer a variety of programs on the edX platform that directly address the skills gap in the workforce with courses and credentials from the best universities and industry content partners in the world. By collaborating with universities and companies, we ensure that our content is not only academically rigorous but also practically relevant, providing learners with the skills they need for career development and upskilling. We offer a subscription catalog of our content for enterprises and governments called edX for Business, so they can upskill their employees for the future of work. Two examples of these programs in action come to mind:
The first example is edX Academies, an edX for Business featuring eight in-demand skill areas — AI, sustainability, leadership, and supply chain among them — that enable a company to curate a program of learning that can be configured across an organization, from CEO to individual contributor, to drive critical career progression for employees and cultivate business critical skills across the organization.
The second is Access Partnerships that bring together education institutions, nonprofit and workforce agencies, funding organizations, and diversity-minded employers — all working to offer adult learners affordable pathways to job-relevant tech skills that, in turn, can lead to life-changing careers. One of our first partnerships in Tulsa, Oklahoma [citing an edX case study featuring Tulsa Community College] gave 40 learners from a wide variety of backgrounds — including blue-collar workers, military veterans, women re-entering the workforce, and individuals from the Cherokee Nation — the opportunity to enroll part-time in online cybersecurity and data analytics boot camps offered through Tulsa Community College. The cohorts achieved an 89.7 percent graduation rate, with many learners continuing on to a full-time paid assistantship that helps them learn on the job before transitioning to a permanent position.
Grush: Does 2U try to offer wayfinding for learners? How do learners negotiate the numerous course offerings? How do they find a fit?
Agarwal: Navigating our extensive course offerings is a key consideration. We were one of the first online education companies to create new AI-enabled tools like our in-platform learning assistant edX Xpert and an edX ChatGPT plugin to help learners find courses that best fit their goals and interests. Learners are actively using these tools, in conjunction with live human support, to discover career-relevant learning pathways, receive learning assistance, and get real-time support.
Grush: In principle, edX supports lifelong learning. What are some of the ways this support could expand? And similar to what I asked earlier, how can the platform offer learners some context as 2U builds out extensive offerings on edX.org?
Agarwal: Supporting lifelong learning is a core principle at 2U. In addition to expanding the programs available on edX continuously, to include a wider range of subjects and credentials, we're looking at how the concept of lifelong learning is changing, particularly in light of technological advancements.
We're looking at how the concept of lifelong learning is changing, particularly in light of technological advancements.
Our recently released whitepaper, Navigating the Workplace in the Age of AI, shows that, rather than turning to post-secondary institutions to upskill, professionals are expecting their employers to deliver the training they need to meet the future demands of the workplace. With this in mind, we've continued to expand our enterprise business to help equip employers with corporate learning solutions that empower employees and maximize business impact. In 2023 we launched a Career Resource Center, available for free, to equip all registered edX learners with career resources to help navigate the rapidly changing employment landscape and advance in their desired career paths. As the who, what, where, and when of lifelong learning continue to evolve, we'll ensure that the edX platform provides the tools learners and partners need to accomplish their goals.
As the who, what, where, and when of lifelong learning continue to evolve, we'll ensure that the edX platform provides the tools learners and partners need to accomplish their goals.
Grush: Is there an effort to unify your learner experience, from upskilling to lifelong learning — cradle to grave, if you will? Do you foresee the reliance of students on edX growing longitudinally?
Agarwal: Yes, absolutely. A key part of our vision is to offer educational opportunities to learners on edX at every investment level — from free to degree.
A key part of our vision is to offer educational opportunities to learners on edX at every investment level — from free to degree.
As the worlds of work and education continue to change, we aim to make edX a comprehensive learning platform where learners can return at different stages of their lives for upskilling, reskilling, and personal growth. As an example of our longitudinal support for lifelong learning, our edX for Campus offering allows university campuses to embed edX courses into their campus degree programs. Similarly our edX for Business catalog offers employers ways to help their employees upskill continuously for the future of work.
We aim to make edX a comprehensive learning platform where learners can return at different stages of their lives for upskilling, reskilling, and personal growth.
Grush: What changes do you see in the future of the edX platform?
Agarwal: Looking ahead, I see edX becoming even more personalized and learner-centric. We're exploring AI-driven personalization to tailor learning experiences to individual needs. Additionally, we plan to expand our partnerships with both industry and academia to offer more diverse and relevant courses, and to integrate hands-on learning experiences further.
Grush: This industry is driven by credentials such as degrees and certificates. What have you done in terms of credentialing for modular and stackable learning for the future?
Agarwal: The Fifth Industrial Revolution is rapidly transforming industries and jobs, leaving professionals to keep updating, diversifying, and developing new skill sets in order to remain relevant, adaptable, and competitive. This means that lifelong learning is no longer optional, and higher education must deliver learning opportunities that empower people to work and learn in tandem throughout their careers.
Lifelong learning is no longer optional, and higher education must deliver learning opportunities that empower people to work and learn in tandem throughout their careers.
A bachelor's degree remains a key academic milestone and positive indicator of career success and income potential. However, it is not the only way for professionals to signal to employers that they have the skills and drive needed to sustain a successful career. While a four-year degree is the path for some, it's not the path for all. Unbundling common education packages like a bachelor's degree into more manageable chunks, what we call modular learning, is one of many ways that 2U is reimagining how education is delivered for the future, now.
A modular approach can significantly reduce educational cycle time by partitioning learning into smaller, Lego-like building blocks, each with their own stackable credentials and skills outcomes. edX's Professional Certificate, MicroBachelors, and MicroMasters programs are helping put career-relevant skills in the hands of learners in a matter of months, not years. And these modular credentials can provide pathways into degrees as well. The educational possibilities are endless with a modular and stackable approach. Along with our academic and corporate partners, we're keeping our fingers on the pulse of today's most in-demand skills and working to bring additional topics to learners.
Grush: As you consider the long list of edX accomplishments, what are you most proud of?
Agarwal: Reflecting on edX's journey, I am most proud of its continued impact on democratizing education. Our global online learning platform now connects more than 81 million people from all over the world to thousands of online programs to meet every professional moment. We've helped make high-quality education accessible by breaking down barriers related to cost, location, and access. Seeing learners from all walks of life achieve their learning goals and transform their lives through education is incredibly fulfilling and motivates us to continue our mission.