University of Phoenix Honored with 2023 Excellence in Academic Partnerships Award by Chief Learning Officer

Award highlights university alliance with ManpowerGroup on collaboration to support associates in gaining new skills and expanding career opportunities 

University of Phoenix is pleased to announce its recognition as the recipient of the 2023 Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Learning ​in ​Practice Award in the category, Excellence in Academic Partnerships. The CLO Learning in Practice Awards honor learning and development leaders for their work in designing and delivering exemplary employee development programs. University of Phoenix has been honored with the Excellence in Academic Partnerships category for its successful collaboration on an upskilling program with ManpowerGroup (Manpower), the employment agency dedicated to enriching people's lives with meaningful employment and development opportunities for more than 60 years.

​​“It’s with enormous pride that we receive this award from CLO," said Jay Titus, vice president and general manager of Workforce Solutions Group at University of Phoenix. “Our skills-focused approach to Manpower’s business needs is a great model for the successful collaboration between academic institutions and the business community where we bring together expertise in learning for the working adult and organizations who want to upskill their teams in order to achieve business goals.”​​​

​​The award recognized a program launched by University of Phoenix and Manpower in 2017, where University of Phoenix collaborated with Manpower to provide short, skill-focused classes that prepare Manpower associates to pursue career opportunities. Graduates from the program receive certificates of achievement and one college credit that can be applied to a University of Phoenix degree. Nearly 2,000 Manpower associates have completed courses in accounts receivable/payable, contact center/customer service, contact center team leadership, help desk, human resources, project management, and warehouse/production leadership. ​​​

​“Manpower is thrilled for the Excellence in Academic Partnership​s​ CLO award. The University of Phoenix has been a key partner in our MyPath program and has paved the way for thousands of our Associates to gain new skills and reach for purposeful and meaningful next level career opportunities,” stated Nimo Shah, Director, MyPath ManpowerGroup.

For two decades, the CLO Learning in Practice Awards have been acknowledging learning leaders who exemplify excellence in crafting and implementing employee development programs. These exceptional individuals exhibit a unique blend of qualities, including leadership, visionary thinking, business acumen, and a strategic alignment that consistently delivers outstanding results. 

“Learning functions, talent, workplace cultures, priorities – it’s all changing, modernizing. And it’s truly inspirational to see the creativity and dexterity these individuals have used to craft their employee development programs, proving their impact on a business,” said Ashley St. John, chief content officer and editor in chief for Chief Learning Officer. “We are honored to help acknowledge the hard work of all of these individuals and, ultimately, the success of their teams.”

University of Phoenix's commitment to career-minded learning is evident through its innovative skills-tagged curriculum and digital badging model to meet working adult learners’ need to demonstrate skills attainment for workplace relevancy. The University has issued over 400,000 badges since September 2021, for skills obtained in undergraduate, graduate, and professional development courses. Currently, more than 89% of university programs open for new enrollment are now skills mapped. 

University of Phoenix offers a robust online learning platform, dedicated faculty members who bring real-world experience into the virtual classroom, and fosters an environment that prioritizes practical application and experiential learning. Through its comprehensive range of career-focused programs in healthcare, business, information technology, education and social sciences, the University of Phoenix incorporates technologies and industry-relevant, skills-focused curriculum to deliver an education aligned with the demands of the ever-evolving workforce. The university’s Career Services for Life® commitment provides active students and graduates with access to a full suite of career services and support. 

CLO established the Learning in Practice Awards in 2003. Learn more about this year’s winners here.  

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.