Collaboration
EY, Microsoft Partner to Advance Sustainability Education Worldwide with ‘Green Skills Passport’

EY and Microsoft have launched Green Skills Passport — an educational initiative aimed at providing learners aged 16 and over with the skills needed to pursue career opportunities in the growing “green” economy. The free online program is part of an ongoing social-impact collaboration focused on sustainability and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) upskilling for young people.

The International Labor Organization is forecasting the creation of 24 million sustainability-related jobs by 2030; but according to a recent EY study, sustainability leaders at some of the world’s largest companies reported the scarcity of talent trained around the challenges of climate change at both operations and board level to be one of the largest barriers to achieving their net-zero targets. Green Skills Passport will position learners to thrive in this evolving market and provide non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with a platform to empower underserved communities with new employable skills.

Through a 10-hour virtual course, participants can work at their own pace and learn about key topics including sustainability, entrepreneurship and skills for employment. Green Skills Passport offers a detailed approach to skills development — providing learners with EY-curated learning paths built and delivered on the Microsoft Community Training platform.

EY and Microsoft have already launched successful Green Skills Passport pilot programs in the United States, India and Bangladesh. Outcomes include:

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  More than 1,400 course completions and certificates awarded

• 61 percent plan to apply for sustainability-related jobs

• 43 percent plan to enroll in a university degree in sustainability or take more related classes.

"The collaboration between EY and Microsoft extends beyond a traditional alliance — showcasing our shared dedication to generating social impact,” says Andy Baldwin, EY’s Global Managing Partner of Client Service. “These programs are a testament of our desire to continue equipping young individuals with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world."

Together, EY and Microsoft have collaborated on a multitude of programs to empower job seekers with the skills needed for the digital future — furthering EY Ripples’ ambition to impact 1 billion lives by 2030 and Microsoft's focus on building a more inclusive, equitable, sustainable and trusted future for everyone. On this front, Microsoft has partnered with companies including LinkedIn — on a skills-training initiative aimed at fostering a more inclusive tech workforce in the US, with a specific focus on women and underrepresented minorities; and most recently with The Crown Estate — on two Minecraft Education worlds that engage students on issues related to climate change and biodiversity; and to consider careers in areas such as engineering, sustainability and conservation.

Other high-impact EY-Microsoft social programs include:

• Entrepreneurship for Positive Impact: A Microsoft program aimed to accelerate the growth of impact-first, tech startups. EY and Microsoft ran a series of four upskilling workshops on key growth challenges identified on investment strategies, financial planning, ESG strategy and business resilience.

• Future Skills Workshops (FSW): An EY offering to equip young or underserved groups with knowledge to navigate a changing world. The workshops include a variety of topics including financial literacy, environmental sustainability and emerging technology. Microsoft and EY have partnered with the nonprofit Trust for the Americas, which is disseminating FSW content across Latin America. Beneficiaries in multiple LATAM countries can access training materials that are available on Microsoft's Community Training platform completing the workshops in either classroom settings or virtually.

• EY STEM App: An innovative, gamified mobile platform for girls ages 13-18 that aims to support the next generation of girls in STEM. The EY STEM App will host a channel with Microsoft MakeCode, where users can develop block-coding skills.

"We're proud to continue growing our collaboration with EY to offer these unique programs that bridge the gap between education and employability,” says [Jean-Philippe Courtois](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jpcourtois/), EVP and President of National Transformation Partnerships at Microsoft. “Through these programs, we are taking steps toward social equity and empowering leaders of the future."

Learn more about the EY-Microsoft Green Skills Passport here.