HP commits $20M+ to enable quality education
HP World on Wheels brings digital learning to children and adults living in rural and underserved communities in India. Photo provided by HP.
For the 330 million children across the globe who are not currently learning basic literacy and numeracy skills, a quality education can be instrumental in breaking the cycle of poverty. The United Nations recognizes quality education for all (Sustainable Development Goal 4) as one of the most vital building blocks for sustainable development, opening doors to new ideas and better opportunities, enabling greater equalities, empowering healthier lives, fostering tolerance, and advancing more peaceful societies.
As leaders of the world’s most powerful countries meet in Hamburg this week at the G20 Summit to address inequalities and promote sustainable development, HP joins international advocacy organization Global Citizen in calling upon the G20 countries to outline their concrete commitments to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of education, health and development, and the global refugee crisis.
In calling for action, we know we must lead by example. HP Chief Supply Chain Officer Stuart Pann announced a bold new pledge before a crowd of 12,000 people at the Global Citizen Festival in Hamburg on July 6, with millions more watching online across the world: HP is committing more than $20 million in technology, training, R&D, and funding contributions to enable better learning outcomes for more than 100 million people by 2025.
Education is a critical business vertical for HP—not only as a core market for our technology, but because quality education is vital to powering the next generation of inventors, leaders, and future employees. We’re driven by the knowledge that, as we help build better education systems, we enable people to improve their lives and livelihoods, supporting sustained economic growth, and helping achieve meaningful outcomes for us all.
Making quality education accessible to the millions currently excluded is essential—and quality is key. HP is focused on reinventing the classroom in ways that engage students, empower educators, and build strong and vibrant communities. Furthermore, we are bringing these classrooms directly to students who otherwise may not have access to a quality education.
To increase the reach of HP’s education initiatives by 2025, HP will:
- Expand programs like HP World on Wheels, which brings digital literacy to rural India through mobile learning labs.
- Provide refugees in the Middle East with access to personalized, blended learning experiences and instructional innovation through HP Learning Studios.
- Empower another one million aspiring entrepreneurs by enrolling them in HP LIFE, a free global e-learning program of the HP Foundation, by 2025. Since 2012, 650,000 learners have participated in HP LIFE training.
- Help ensure that the skills schools teach match what employers require through HP National Education Technology Assessment (NETA). HP NETA uses a combination of analysis, insights, and analytics to support governments and policymakers around the world to better connect learning to employment.
There is no path to sustained economic development that doesn’t include inclusive, quality education and lifelong learning. We believe quality education is not a privilege for a few—it’s a right that must be available to all. As a global multinational company, we are aware that our business actions can have a tremendous impact, yet we know we can’t do it alone. We invite you to join us on this journey to create a world in which everyone, everywhere has the skills and opportunities to succeed.
Nate Hurst, Chief Sustainability and Social Impact Officer, HP Inc.
Nate Hurst drives programs with a focus on the environment, society, and integrity that are aligned with HP’s business strategy. Nate leads a global team of experts focused on driving solutions in collaboration with non-profit organizations, governments, customers, and partners. His team reinvents sustainable solutions that address societal challenges in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, and the environment while utilizing HP’s technology