Pearson : Partners with the University of North Texas to Increase Career Success for Students

WASHINGTON, DC - Pearson announced a digital learning partnership with the University of North Texas (UNT) to offer 38,000 students the opportunity to showcase effective career development and job search skills from their classroom and co-curricular activities.

Beginning with the fall 2017 semester, UNT students can access UNT's Career Connect Pathway, which features a collection of digital learning materials associated with Pearson's Career Success Program. Students will be able to develop an online profile using the Foliotek portfolio platform, GRIT Gauge™, and other instructional assets and tools as part of a milestones-based career pathway.

Pearson's Career Success Program includes digital assessments, instructional modules and career-related resources for conducting a focused and successful job search.

'UNT Career Connect is based on the idea that every UNT student already has a wide range of real-life, high-impact experiences that can be from the classroom and co-curricular,' said Mike Simmons, Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at UNT charged with overseeing UNT Career Connect. 'Career Connect is a way to integrate all of the activities to really showcase student skills like communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. The ability to demonstrate these in-demand professional skills sets our students up for success and ensures their marketable skills are front and center for potential employers and graduate schools.'

Pearson's digital materials also offer a fun component for students, giving them the opportunity to earn digital badges and credentials that represent the marketable skills gained at UNT, and then showcase those skills on their eportfolios.

'Through our partnership with UNT and Foliotek, students have increased access to instruction, information, and strategies for choosing and pursuing their desired career path. Leveraging high-quality digital learning content and technology, the program equips students with the necessary skills and knowledge for their chosen career and it presents potential employers with the most impressive and effective professional profiles,' said Leah Jewell, Managing Director of Career Development and Employability at Pearson.

The GRIT Gauge™, an assessment that measures quality and quantity of Growth, Resilience, Instinct, and Tenacity, was developed and created by, Paul G. Stoltz, Ph.D. The GRIT Gauge is a helpful predictor of a broad range of student success factors, including goal magnitude, goal completion, wellness, persistence, and improving one's status in life.

Foliotek offers a powerful, digital portfolio service that allows students to aggregate and showcase their skills, academic and professional accomplishments, evidence of competencies, and work samples to potential employers in a flexible, comprehensive, and appealing digital format.

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About the University of North Texas

Established in 1890, UNT is one of the nation's largest public research universities with nearly 38,000 students. Ranked a Tier One research university by the Carnegie Classification, UNT is a catalyst for creativity, fueling progress, innovation and entrepreneurship for the North Texas region and the state. UNT graduated 8,900 students last year from its 13 colleges and schools and offers 101 bachelor's, 82 master's and 38 doctoral degree programs, many nationally and internationally recognized. World-class faculty are making breakthroughs every day, and UNT students and alumni are changing the world around them. For more, visit www.unt.edu

About Pearson

Pearson is the world's learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Our mission is to help people make progress through access to better learning. We believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives. For more, visit www.pearson.com.

Contact

Scott Overland, (202) 909-4520, Scott.Overland@pearson.com