News & Press
2U, Inc. Launches Partnership with the International Rescue Committee
Written by 2U on Dec 18, 2019
Related content: Higher Education, Strategic Partnerships
IRC employees will receive scholarships to 2U-powered graduate programs and short courses
NEW YORK and LANHAM, Md. – December 19, 2019 – 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU), a global leader in education technology, today announced its inaugural Purpose Partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an organization that helps individuals and families whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Under the partnership, IRC employees will be eligible for more than $1 million in scholarships to 2U-powered graduate programs and short courses.
In 2018, 2U announced the launch of its corporate citizenship initiative, “2U Engage.” Grounded in three core pillars–Service, Community, and Purpose–2U Engage furthers the company’s mission of eliminating the back row in education by supporting local and global non-profits. This partnership–grounded in the Purpose pillar designed to expand educational access–will allow IRC employees to pursue higher education and continued learning through a 2U-sponsored scholarship program.
“We are excited to launch our first Purpose Partnership with IRC and provide its employees with scholarships to 2U-powered graduate degree programs and short courses from our portfolio of world-class universities,” 2U Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer David Sutphen said. “By empowering IRC employees to further their education while continuing to work, we’re helping this amazing organization enhance its mission and impact by investing in what matters most: its people.”
“Our partnership with 2U will offer our employees scholarships to some of the world’s best universities while they continue their transformative work at the IRC,” IRC Chief Human Resources Officer Brian Johnson said. “Personal and professional development are core to the IRC culture, so we are excited that our employees will now be able to pursue a graduate degree program or short course that helps them maximize the impact they are making in the world. As of today, we already have 50 IRC employees from 17 countries who have been awarded a full short course scholarship.”
Eligible IRC employees will be required to complete the standard application process for 2U-powered degree program. All admissions decisions for IRC scholarship recipients are the sole discretion of the university.
About 2U, Inc. (Nasdaq: TWOU)
Eliminating the back row in higher education is not just a metaphor–it’s our mission. For more than a decade, 2U, Inc., a global leader in education technology, has been a trusted partner and brand steward of great universities. We build, deliver, and support more than 250 digital and in-person educational offerings, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, professional certificates, Trilogy-powered boot camps, and GetSmarter short courses. Together with our partners, 2U has positively transformed the lives of more than 150,000 students and lifelong learners. To learn more, visit 2U.com. #NoBackRow
About the IRC
The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 offices across the U.S. helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future, and strengthen their communities. Learn more at www.rescue.org and follow the IRC on Twitter & Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Krista Celentano, 2U, Inc.
media@2u.com
Matt Amaral, International Rescue Committee
Matt.Amaral@rescue.org