Microsoft launches global skills initiative to bring new skills to 25 million people, includes new Teams learning app

3 min. read

Published onJune 30, 2020

published onJune 30, 2020

Share this article

Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more

There’s no doubt that COVID-19 is still spreading around the world. Even with limited or phased reopening plans now going into effect in some countries and states, the jobs, businesses, schools, and life as we know it, are shaping up to be different due to the impacts of social distancing and the virus.

As a result, Microsoft has announced a new global skills initiative. Aimed at bringing more digital skills to 25 million people worldwide by the end of the year,the initiative includesa new Microsoft Teams learning app and will cover three specific goals.

According to Microsoft President Brad Smith, the initiative brings together all kinds of Microsoft resources. That includes LinkedIn, GitHub, and more. For goal one, Microsoft is aiming to use data to identify in-demand jobs and the skills needed to fill them. As part of the second goal, the company also hopes to provide free access to learning paths and content to help people develop the skills they need for it. Finally, Microsoft is seeking to offer low-cost certifications and free job-seeking tools. These tools are launching today as part of the digital skills initiative.

In addition, to support the broader parts of this vision, Microsoft believes in providing what it calls a “connected system of learning.” This is because many Microsoft customers have found that the learning experience for their employees is highly fragmented.

The fruits of this will be a new learning app in Microsoft Teams. According to Microsoft, the Teams Learning app will “allow employers to integrate world-class content from LinkedIn Learning, Microsoft Learn, a customer’s own content, and other content providers all in one place.”According to ZDNet, the app will roll out in preview and will become generally available later this calendar year. It builds on the chat and other existing functionalities of Teams.

Microsoft’s blog post also covers some other topics, showing the statistics behind unemployment, how it impacts women, and which types of jobs are more at risk. The blog even looks at how the Coronavirus lockdown accelerated digitization and the specifics of how Microsoft hopes to put its plans into effect.

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time).

For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web.

Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they’re looking for.

User forum

0 messages

Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes

Comment*

Name*

Email*

Commenting as.Not you?

Save information for future comments

Comment

Radu Tyrsina

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low#

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app#

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities#

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount#

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier#

Microsoft launches global skills initiative to bring new skills to 25 million people, includes new Teams learning app#

With KB5043178 to Release Preview Channel, Microsoft advises Windows 11 users to plug in when the battery is low

Copilot in Outlook will generate personalized themes for you to customize the app

Microsoft will raise the price of its 365 Suite to include AI capabilities

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now Xbox X|S at a huge discount

Outlook will let users create custom account icons so they can tell their accounts apart easier

Microsoft launches global skills initiative to bring new skills to 25 million people, includes new Teams learning app