The EdPlus story: Global impact and education advancement

Online education has largely been synonymous with the college degree for decades; however, the world continues to rapidly change and higher education institutions have a duty to evolve alongside it. To be an impactful leader and innovator in academia, elevating education includes improving access to quality degrees online — and expanding the landscape across international borders to reach more students, change more lives and enhance more learning communities. Arizona State University, in collaboration with EdPlus and other partners, embraces this mission of limitless learning by delivering and transforming quality global education. 

The EdPlus Lookbook, “The Story of EdPlus at Arizona State University: Designed to Innovate for Impact,” illustrates how global collaborations and the advancement of digital education through technology uplift communities and give humans everywhere the tools and resources to thrive. 

Mastercard Foundation: Online learning expertise for the greater good 
EdPlus and ASU’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation has given the university the opportunity to provide technological solutions, specialized courses, support services, and programs for youth employment, instructional design training, graduate-level education and professional skills development. This collaboration has been able to empower students, content designers, faculty and institutions through joint initiatives such as: 

• eShe: eShe enhances the educational experience for over 800,000 students by improving Ethiopia’s eLearning infrastructure. The project involved creating an Open edX-based ecosystem for 50 universities, deploying a comprehensive e-learning suite and offering instructional design and digital literacy training, among other transformative endeavors.
   
• Baobab: To help connect Mastercard Foundation Scholars to internship and job opportunities, EdPlus created the Baobab Digital Innovation Scholars Program and Baobab Platform. Through this program, young Africans have access to personal and professional development resources and classes, setting them up for careers in educational technology.

Cintana: Educational excellence spanning across continents 
Cintana, founded in collaboration with ASU, provides resources and expertise to create the largest international university network, while enhancing global university performance and offering support to meet the varied learning needs of students worldwide. Cintana helps universities and students achieve excellence beyond geographical limits, from curriculum development and learning management systems to ASU online enrollment and international exchange programs.

Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS): Sharing stories of cultural impact
EdPlus teamed up with PVS whose mission is to perpetuate traditional Polynesian voyaging and the spirit of exploration through educational programs. To support PVS in preserving their rich Hawaiian heritage and oral traditions, EdPlus used immersive technologies to develop Hall of Teachers — a virtual reality experience showcasing the founders and their contributions. Hall of Teachers also launched in the Bishop Museum, the largest museum in Hawaii, educating the community about the legacy of Polynesian voyaging. Through these innovative and collaborative initiatives, EdPlus supports the ASU charter: “assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves,” from Arizona to across the globe. Together, EdPlus and the university, alongside their partners, unite in their shared mission to expand and advance scaled digital teaching and learning. To learn more about this global impact, explore the EdPlus Lookbook and story of how EdPlus redefines the future of education.