IBM Expands New Collar Programs into France

IBM announced plans to expand its global "New Collar" programs into France. It is a part of a commitment to help prepare the French workforce for the business and social transformation being driven by hybrid cloud, digital and AI technologies.

These plans include the launch of the very first P-TECH schools in France, to provide technical and professional educational opportunities to young people, primarily from disadvantaged backgrounds. IBM also plans to use a new digital SkillsBuild platform to help the unemployed and those changing careers develop the technical and professional skills needed to re-enter the workforce, and to bring new commitments to apprenticeship programs, including participation in the OpenClassrooms initiative.

"We know that AI, like other transformative technologies before it, will have a profound impact on peoples' jobs and the workplace. That is why IBM is leading the way in expanding the pathways through which students and professionals can build skills for today's technology era," said IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty. "Through groundbreaking education programs like P-TECH, which we are proud to expand in France, we can ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age.

IBM has been making investments and partnering with governments, educational institutions and businesses around the world to equip the global workforce for emerging "New Collar Jobs", which are jobs that require specialist technical skills, but not always a traditional university degree. IBM's "New Collar" program is the largest global initiative of its kind, with 200 P-TECH schools serving 125,000 students across 13 countries, including France, when the current school year starts.

In partnership with the French Ministry for Education, BNP Paribas and Orange, IBM announced the introduction of P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School), a pioneering education initiative in France. Starting in September, the Lycée La Tournelle (La Garenne-Colombes) and the Lycée Edmond Labbé, (Douai) will introduce P-TECH classes, designed to provide relevant technical and professional education opportunities to young people from primarily disadvantaged backgrounds.

IBM is also launching SkillsBuild, a new digital platform, which provides job seekers, including those returning to work after leave, the long-term unemployed, migrants, veterans and those changing professions, with the digital content, personalized coaching and experiential learning they need to gain technical and professional skills required to re-enter the workforce. Following its launch in France, the program will expand to Germany and the UK in the second half of 2019, before its global roll-out.

IBM will contribute to the pioneering OpenClassrooms apprenticeship initiative with a commitment to hire apprentices and to contribute hands-on projects and mentorship to the program. In addition, IBM along with Accenture, Airbus, Engie, Sanofi and Thalès, has signed a "Declaration for Sciences and Technology at School", with a commitment to encourage employees to volunteer in schools, to provide support to students and teachers, and to provide technology resources in support of volunteers from all companies. The first program identified for support by IBM will be "Yes we code!" in partnership with the Fondation CGenial.