ASU Thunderbird Taps Canvas LMS to Power 100 Million Learners Initiative

Arizona State University's Thunderbird School of Global Management has partnered with ed tech company Instructure to provide its Canvas learning platform to the Francis and Dionne Najafi 100 Million Global Learners Initiative through 2030. The initiative will offer free online certificate programs to learners worldwide, with an emphasis on women and girls, who are expected to make up 70% of the student body.

The Najafis, both ASU Thunderbird alumni who said their lives were transformed by their experience at the school and wanted to extend to others with less opportunity, donated $25 million to the school in early 2022 to launch the initiative to teach global management and entrepreneurship courses to 100 million learners worldwide in underserved communities. The free program has three levels: foundational courses available to all, intermediate courses for advanced high school to undergraduate learners, and advanced courses for advanced undergraduate learners and higher. Courses include leadership, data analytics and digital transformation, customer experience and digital marketing, financial accounting, entrepreneurship, and sustainable business. Delivered via the Canvas LMS, the program will be offered in 40 languages, from Arabic to Zulu.

"We are honored to partner with Instructure and their Canvas LMS platform to help accelerate educational empowerment worldwide, support learners and professionals to gain the skills needed to succeed in the dynamic digitalized global economy, and advance sustainable and inclusive prosperity worldwide," said Sanjeev Khagram, director general and dean at Thunderbird.

Read Thunderbird's facts document to learn more about the initiative.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • white desk with an open digital tablet showing AI-related icons like gears and neural networks

    Elon University and AAC&U Release Student Guide to AI

    A new publication from Elon University 's Imagining the Digital Future Center and the American Association of Colleges and Universities offers students key principles for navigating college in the age of artificial intelligence.

  • Abstract geometric pattern with interconnected nodes and lines

    Microsoft 365 Copilot Gets Expanded AI Capabilities, Collaboration Tools

    Microsoft has announced the next updates to its Microsoft 365 Copilot AI assistant, including expanded AI capabilities in individual apps, the ability to create autonomous agents, and a new AI-powered collaboration workspace.

  • Digital Education Council survey data

    Survey: 86% of Students Already Use AI in Their Studies

    In a recent survey from the Digital Education Council, a global alliance of universities and industry representatives focused on education innovation, the majority of students (86%) said they use artificial intelligence in their studies.

  • Two autonomous AI figures performing tasks in a tech environment; one interacts with floating holographic screens, while the other manipulates digital components

    Agentic AI Named Top Tech Trend for 2025

    Agentic AI will be the top tech trend for 2025, according to research firm Gartner. The term describes autonomous machine "agents" that move beyond query-and-response generative chatbots to do enterprise-related tasks without human guidance.