From Career Upskilling to Lifelong Learning: A Q&A with 2U's Anant Agarwal
Here, we explore the partnerships and technologies that will keep learners connected to their education.
As educators we're increasingly aware that our students will need to extend their education far beyond graduation. Many will broaden and update their professional interests; some may switch fields entirely. CT talked with Anant Agarwal, founder of edX and chief platform officer at 2U, about these trends and how edX supports individual learners.
Anant Agarwal, founder of edX and chief platform officer at 2U (Photo courtesy 2U)
Mary Grush: Thank you for being here to speak with us today. We've talked before about major trends in technology for education — most recently discussing generative AI in higher education. Today I'd like to explore with you one of my favorite topics: lifelong learning.
We know that edX is a great platform for learners to access education resources that will help them build the knowledge they need now. How would you describe the way edX serves individual learners?
Anant Agarwal: At 2U, we are committed to making high-quality education accessible to everyone, everywhere. Our edX platform serves individual learners by offering a diverse range of courses that cater to various needs — whether it's someone enrolled in higher education, a professional seeking career advancement, or an individual pursuing a personal passion. We partner with the world's top institutions like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, and Google and focus on providing learner-centric, flexible, and affordable educational content and credentials — empowering learners to take control of their education and align it with their personal and professional goals.
As an example, when it became clear that generative AI would rapidly reshape the future of work, edX moved quickly to equip our global learner network with the knowledge and skills they need not only to meet the moment but thrive in the era of AI. Leveraging our vast scale and expertise in cutting-edge technology to deliver strong learner outcomes, we mobilized some of our forward-thinking university and corporate partners to create a comprehensive portfolio of online AI learning programs. edX now has 450-plus courses and programs that include AI/Machine Learning (ML) content, such as free Intro to ChatGPT and Prompt Engineering courses, AI bootcamps, and even full AI degrees.