IBM SkillsBuild
| Company type | Educational initiative |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education, Technology |
| Founder | IBM |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Online courses, digital credentials, mentorship programs |
| Owner | IBM |
| Website | https://skillsbuild.org |
IBM SkillsBuild is a complimentary educational initiative designed to support underrepresented groups within the technology sector. It assists adult learners, high school and university students, as well as educators, in acquiring sought-after skills and connecting with career prospects. This program combines an online learning platform with hands-on experiences facilitated through a worldwide network of partners.
The IBM SkillsBuild platform is openly accessible and provides more than 1,000 courses available in 20 different languages. These courses cover areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud technologies, and essential workplace competencies including Design Thinking. Learners have the opportunity to obtain IBM-branded digital certificates that are acknowledged by employers.
An advanced partner edition enhances the offering by including interactive workshops, sessions led by IBM coaches and mentors, project-centered learning activities, access to IBM software tools, dedicated partner assistance, and pathways to employment opportunities.
Mission and initiatives
A Comprehensive Program for All
IBM’s educational offerings prioritize flexibility and inclusiveness, understanding that uniform approaches are ineffective in education. Their range of programs spans from technical skill development for teenagers in public schools and higher education institutions to paid internships and apprenticeship opportunities within IBM. SkillsBuild integrates mentorship with adaptable online coursework provided at no cost to emerging professionals.
IBM’s goal is to reach 30 million individuals through a variety of initiatives and collaborations with universities, governmental bodies, and non-governmental organizations that focus on marginalized populations such as youth, women, and veterans. These partnerships engage the global private sector to broaden access for historically underserved communities.
Notable collaborations include:
- In the United States, IBM partners with Workforce Development Inc, NACCE, and OHUB to facilitate SkillsBuild training aimed at workforce development and skill enhancement.
- In India, alliances with Haryana State Board of Technical Education and Uttar Pradesh SCERT promote nationwide youth skill development.
- In Japan, IBM teams up with Osaka Municipal Government and the nonprofit Osaka Roudou Kyokai to deliver IT training targeting job seekers in Osaka Prefecture, emphasizing AI, cloud computing, help desk services, web development, and data analytics roles.
- Across Latin America, IBM collaborates with Junior Achievement Americas to empower women through training in web development and programming fields.
- In Spain, a joint effort with Madrid Council Employment Agency provides unemployed individuals access to courses focusing on interpersonal communication, client relations, web development, and cybersecurity.
- In Hong Kong, IBM works alongside Vocational Training Council (VTC) to embed SkillsBuild within core technology education programs.
- In Nigeria, IBM partners with Coca-Cola HBC to enhance youth readiness for the workplace through interpersonal skills development.
- In Sweden, IBM cooperates with War Child to offer STEM career preparation for women who have fled conflict zones.
Courses
IBM SkillsBuild delivers no-cost courses on artificial intelligence fundamentals including chatbot creation and AI ethics. Its generative AI curriculum covers topics such as Prompt Engineering, introductory Machine Learning concepts, improving customer service through AI technologies, and practical Generative AI applications.
The platform features over 1,000 courses available in 20 languages spanning fields like AI, cybersecurity, data analytics, cloud computing, sustainability initiatives, along with essential workplace skills such as Design Thinking. Participants can earn digital credentials bearing the IBM brand that are widely recognized by employers across industries.