WeWork just turned its global network of workspaces into a community for learning and made it easier for WeWork members and employees to access graduate-level degrees and courses, thanks to a partnership with online education company 2U.
Working with top-notch colleges and universities, 2U seamlessly transforms the traditional classroom-based learning process into a digital experience. With 2U’s innovative approach, if you want to take nursing classes at Georgetown, study marketing at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, or learn cybersecurity from UC Berkeley, you can access the same rigorous coursework in a digital learning platform available wherever you are.
WeWork announced a multi-year, exclusive, global partnership with 2U on January 22. Through this partnership, WeWork will provide students in 2U-powered programs Global Access Memberships to WeWork spaces around the world; 2U will offer $5 million scholarships over 3 years to help WeWork community members and employees access 2U’s world-class degree programs and short courses; and WeWork will license Flatiron School’s proprietary Learn.co technology to 2U.
“We are all students for life, and this partnership creates incredible opportunities to foster lifelong learning,” said WeWork coounder and CEO Adam Neumann.
“This partnership is a unique opportunity,” said 2U CEO and cofounder Chip Paucek. “Evolving our technology platform, offering our degree programs and short courses to the WeWork community, and providing students in our degree programs global access to WeWork spaces is a win, win, win.”
WeWork and 2U will also unveil A Future of Learning and Work center in a WeWork location in 2019. This innovative space will allow students, faculty, and staff of 2U-powered programs to host master classes and lecture series, and collaborate and connect more in-person.
While traditional higher education programs have been slow to meet the needs of the modern workforce, WeWork and 2U recognize the need for a fresh approach. Together, WeWork and 2U will endeavor to make higher education more accessible and flexible, capture the power of community, and enable students to pursue careers that allow maximum creativity and fulfillment.
This is the third time in the past few months that WeWork has underscored its commitment to a lifetime of education through new partnerships and initiatives — first with the acquisition of groundbreaking coding bootcamp Flatiron School, then with the launch of an early childhood education program called WeGrow.
