Accenture to acquire Udacity, invest $1 bn on new upskilling platform

Accenture has introduced LearnVantage, an artificial intelligence (AI)-native learning platform, aimed at delivering comprehensive technology training services, to help clients reskill and upskill employees in technology, data, and AI.  

In a substantial move, Accenture has also committed an investment of $1 billion in LearnVantage over a three-year period. Additionally, the company is set to acquire Udacity, an educational technology company, to boost its existing expertise in learning and training. 

As per the company, the primary objective of LearnVantage is to help leaders in various industries and government sectors quickly identify skill gaps resulting from technological advancements. The platform addresses these gaps by providing industry-specific training at a rapid pace and on a large scale. Catering to a diverse audience, LearnVantage offers highly personalised learning experiences for technical and business users, spanning AI and data science, cloud and cybersecurity training for IT professionals, to Gen AI training for board members and business leaders. 

“The rapid rise of generative AI has grown our clients’ need for training and upskilling their people in cloud, data and AI as they build their digital core, which is essential for reinvention,” said Kishore Durg, global lead of Accenture LearnVantage. 

Accenture LearnVantage will collaborate with leading technology partners such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft to provide generative AI content and industry-relevant technology training. Additionally, partnerships with renowned learning platforms like Pluralsight, Coursera, and Skillsoft will further enrich the platform's offerings. 

Julie Sweet, chair and CEO, Accenture, said, “We are scaling Accenture’s deep capabilities as a world-class learning organisation to help our clients meet their business growth objectives and enable their people to develop the relevant skills they need to make the most of the opportunities that technological change is bringing.” 

The acquisition of Udacity will further enhance Accenture's capabilities by integrating proprietary content, expert services, and scalable learning technology. Udacity, known for providing localised course offerings in multiple languages, will contribute over 230 professionals to the Accenture LearnVantage business. 

The full set of services from Accenture LearnVantage is expected to be available later this year following the completion of the Udacity acquisition.