Adobe’s new skilling initiative aims to bring AI literacy, content creation and digital marketing skills to 30 million worldwide
Adobe’s new global skilling initiative expands the Adobe Digital Academy to equip 30 million learners and teachers with the AI literacy, content creation, and digital marketing skills they need to thrive in the modern workforce. Our program is the first of its kind to be geared towards members of the creator economy and will expand on the Adobe Digital Academy’s decade of success in upskilling and career pathways.
The program builds on Adobe’s commitment to empower learners of all backgrounds to succeed in today’s job market and unleash creativity for all. Adobe has committed more than $100M this year in donations, scholarships, product access and partnerships across this and other initiatives to enable people and organizations around the world to tell their stories.
Training and certificates will be available through Adobe’s collaborations with Coursera, NGOs, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and alternative education organizations. As part of this, we are offering a range of curricula for this program — including courses on Social Media Content, Multimedia Content, Content Marketing, Multi-channel Content, and Advertising, Generative AI Content Creation, Creative & AI Skills.
The first courses are now available globally on Coursera, a best-in-class online learning platform, to enable anyone to learn and gain creative and digital skills at their own pace. Aspiring learners can pursue Content Creator and Graphic Designer Professional Certificates with additional certificates in digital marketing available in early 2025. Adobe is committing $250,000 in scholarship licenses that will be distributed through nonprofits in the first year of the program to access Adobe courses and certificates on Coursera.
The coursework will be coming soon to Adobe Express and is in development for the Behance community.
In addition, Adobe is focused on creating direct paths for future careers. Adobe will expand its partnership with existing Digital Academy collaborator General Assembly, a leading tech talent and training provider, to add bootcamps for marketing and content creation to its offerings. Bootcamp participants will receive free access to live and on-demand training and General Assembly’s career coaching, personal branding and portfolio building resources, reducing graduates’ job search time. The first U.S. cohort is scheduled to begin in November and is now accepting applications. Additional cohorts in the U.S, U.K. and India plan to accept applications in January 2025. Bootcamps are fully sponsored by Adobe and free of charge to participants.
We’re not doing this work alone. We’ll be partnering with organizations around the world including DECA, NPower, Build.org, the Prince’s Trust, AVID, Girl Scouts of Western Washington and Pratham. Read on to learn more about the important work they’re driving.
DECA: Driving a Creative Skills for Emerging Leaders program to prepare and empower high schoolers with creative skills for marketing, business, communications, and creative fields.
“Adobe is the ideal partner for DECA as we amplify our quest to prepare students for college and careers. This initiative will empower our student members to learn and apply the creative skills they need for their future careers in marketing and business. Adobe Express is the perfect tool for DECA students to apply their creativity and experiment with AI to create content relevant to preparing for their careers.”
– Christopher Young, CAE, Chief Program officer, DECA Inc.
NPower: Supporting creative tools in professional development programs for military veterans and young adults from under-resourced communities.
“Thanks to Adobe’s generous support, NPower is enhancing learning opportunities toward software development careers for our graduates through a program specifically designed for women. This investment not only boosts the earning potential of the women we serve but also strengthens the long-term economic impact on their families and communities.”
— Bertina Ceccarelli, Chief Executive officer, NPower
Build.org: Delivering the inclusion of creative skills in BUILD NYC’s college and career readiness curricula.
“Through Build NYC’s youth entrepreneurship education program in partnership with Adobe, we are equipping the next generation of innovators and leaders with the tools they need to succeed. This initiative goes beyond skill acquisition; it’s about igniting passion and unlocking the entrepreneurial spirit within our youth.”
– Sybil Mimy Wells, Mid-Atlantic Regional Executive director, BUILD
The Prince’s Trust: Supporting a new creative skills program and the Trust’s existing work around skilling and employment opportunities for young people in the U.K.
“At The Prince’s Trust, we are committed to empowering young people with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in today’s evolving job market. Our partnership with Adobe opens the doors to exciting opportunities for young individuals to build essential digital and creative skills that are increasingly in demand.”
– Julia Beaumont, Chief Technology officer at The Prince’s Trust UK
Girl Scouts of Western Washington: Training Girl Scouts on creative and marketing skills ahead of their 2025 Girl Scout Cookie Sale.
“I’m thrilled that we’re partnering with Adobe to introduce Girl Scouts to AI through our Adobe Express Digital Design Camps. It’s more important than ever to provide Girl Scouts with opportunities to explore how technology is shaping digital marketing, creative design, and beyond. In doing so, we create pathways for breaking down the occupational segregation that holds many women back from pursuing their dreams and unlocking their limitless potential.”
— Andrea Anderson, CEO, Girl Scouts of Western Washington
Pratham Education Foundation: Supporting children’s creative learning and access to technology across under-resourced areas of India.
AVID: Empowering students in grades 9-12 to engage in real-world project-based learning experiences that utilize collaboration, critical thinking and creativity skills, exposing students to creative careers.