Select Portfolio Highlights
Transfr recently released the results of a study with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to measure the impact of VR on student performance in automotive programs. Researchers compared student outcomes for >1.8k students before and after implementation of Transfr’s solution. The study concluded a significant (43%) increase in the percentage of students receiving a grade A in an introductory automotive course. Additionally, the study found that the presence of VR in the courses also contributed to an increase in enrollment. These results continue to illustrate the positive impact Transfr is bringing to student performance outcomes. We also congratulate the company on being named the 2024 “Best World-Changing Idea, North America” by Fast Company.
BookNook recently announced its K-8 math offering for the 2024-2025 school year, significantly growing its addressable market and bringing its proven model of high-dosage tutoring to a major K-12 pain point. The company is partnering with an established math curriculum provider and has already seen strong interest from states and districts. About the new initiative, Jared Harless (CPO) said, “Our ultimate aim has always been to significantly impact the educational journeys of the students we serve through thoughtful, effective, and personal instructional experiences. With this new math initiative, we move closer to that goal.” In the meantime, recent research continues to highlight the efficacy of high-dosage tutoring. A University of Chicago study published in Q2 found that high-dosage tutoring can reverse pandemic-era learning loss in math; recently, Brookings Institute research highlighted how a model like BookNook’s can be scaled effectively and integrated into the school calendar.
OpenClassrooms recently published its 2024 Mission Report. The report chronicles the company’s progress delivering on its mission of making education accessible by providing individuals all over the world with skills that help them advance in their careers. In 2023 the company achieved +52k career outcomes. 79% of students came from an underserved group. For its apprentices, the company achieved a placement rate of over 80%. Recently, CEO Pierre Dubuc attended the France-US state dinner in Paris with Presidents Biden and Macron to celebrate the French American Business Council. While OC has had a longstanding presence in France, it has been building its momentum in the US over the last 2 years. Most recently the company signed a credit transfer agreement with University of Maryland Global Campus that will enable students who have completed an OC apprenticeship program to transfer 55 credits – the equivalent of 2 years of college.
Disprz’s modular LMS / LXP is uniquely built to serve organizations no matter where they are on their digital learning journey. With a robust mobile delivery model, the company is able to serve front-line learners who have traditionally been left out of the e-learning revolution. The company serves markets that frequently are in the early part of their digital learning journey. They recently released a piece entitled “A Guide to Southeast Asia's Learning Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities,” summarizing their insights over the last few years. In Jakarta, the company held an event for Indonesian CHROs and L&D leaders entitled “Driving Business Success With Value-Centric Learning & Development.”
Learning.com's aim is to empower students with the knowledge and tools to engage with the digital world in a safe and productive manner. In May, Mental Health Awareness month, the company provided free programming on digital tools and their impact on students’ mental health. For example, Learning.com released a webinar on how parents can talk to their teens about cyberbullying and digital citizenship, a critical topic during a crisis time for teenage mental health amidst a rise in social media-related cyberbullying. As Learning.com continues to scale its offerings, we see an opportunity to help impact mental health through increasing student and parent education around safe usage of digital tools. Learning.com’s CEO Lisa O’Masta, a seasoned education executive, recently shared a powerful personal story on why she joined the company and was drawn to its mission; you can hear her story here.
Ironhack recently announced the launch of three new courses in Machine Learning, AI, and DevOps. The company released these new offerings to respond to market demand for these skills, and to continue to meet the needs of its hiring partners. Though it is still early days, the company has already completed a cohort of AI-school students to positive reviews. Ironhack has continued to release thought leadership on topical technology themes such as the Rise of AI to help those without technology backgrounds better understand our current technology and employment markets.
OnlineMedEd serves medical students while they are in one of the most stressful parts of their pre-clinical career. These students are often studying around the clock in preparation for key exams that will determine the options available to them in the next steps of their medical careers. The company recently released a suite of mental health resources to support its students. CEO Doug Hughes elaborated, “Our mission goes beyond merely boosting test scores; it involves advancing the full development of medical students. We're taking on the elephant in the room not just because it's the right thing to do but because fostering a thriving, growing medical community is in all of our best interests." OME also launched its new Qbank this quarter, leveraging generative AI technology to create a comprehensive prep product with a dynamic question bank to add to its product suite. This new solution addresses a critical challenge for medical students preparing for the Step exams and aligns with the demands of B2B customers. Following the Qbank launch, OME introduced ClubMedEd, a comprehensive bundle of resources tailored for the medical student community.
Podium’s Global Career Accelerator enables students to gain hands-on experience by completing real-world projects with globally recognized brands while learning skills in high demand areas like digital marketing and data analytics. As part of the program, students are able to work with national organizations like Intel, charity:water, and the Grammy’s, among others. These work-based learning opportunities are highly valuable to students, providing them with real-world skills that are directly transferable to full-time employment. Recently, Podium surveyed 940 alumni of their program, with the following results:
- 84% responded that Podium made their degree more valuable
- 70% said Podium made them more competitive candidates for jobs and internships
- Over ⅔ stated that Podium was one of the most valuable things they did in college
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