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Cognizant and Pearson Join Forces for Workforce Development in AI Age

In a significant move to enhance early career development and workforce readiness amid rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), Cognizant (Nasdaq: CTSH) and Pearson (FTSE: PSON.L) have announced a groundbreaking global strategic partnership. This alliance, unveiled on September 2, 2025, aims to leverage generative and agentic AI technologies to transform learning experiences and empower the workforce of tomorrow.

Addressing Economic Inefficiencies

According to research by Pearson, inefficiencies in career pathways result in an astonishing loss of approximately $1.1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, around 5% of the nation's GDP. Furthermore, a study conducted by Cognizant and Oxford Economics indicates that AI has the potential to alter nearly 90% of existing job structures and can contribute an impressive $1 trillion to annual growth in the U.S. economy by 2032. This partnership seeks to address such pressing issues head-on, providing solutions that promote early career readiness and skill adaptation in this new era dominated by AI.

Enhancing Learning through Technology

The multi-year agreement facilitates Cognizant’s effort to enhance Pearson's existing platforms using advanced AI technologies. Cognizant will assist in improving Pearson's offerings, including learner experiences and applications through cloud-native solutions and microservices architectures, particularly utilizing Cognizant Flowsource™. Moreover, Cognizant plans to integrate its Agent Foundry and Neuro® SAN solutions to refine Pearson’s critical business processes, enabling a more dynamic and responsive learning environment.

By marrying Pearson’s established learning expertise with Cognizant’s technological and consultancy strengths, the partnership is poised to accelerate the rollout of AI-enabled learning and assessment programs, thereby creating tailored workforce skilling initiatives. These initiatives will utilize innovations like augmented reality, conversational AI, and agentic AI to cater to various learning styles and preferences, fostering engaging and interactive lifelong learning avenues.

Focus Areas of Collaboration

Supporting Early Career Growth

Cognizant and Pearson aim to assist recent graduates, apprentices, and mid-career professionals in acquiring essential skills in AI, digital technologies, and cloud computing. Pearson will provide comprehensive content and assessments aligned with Cognizant’s initiatives including Synapse and the Immersive Learning Center located in Chennai.

Redefining Learning Strategies

The partnership will also focus on leveraging Cognizant’s automation and AI capabilities to enhance the performance and availability of Pearson's educational products and services. Together, they will innovate new learning products that incorporate cutting-edge technologies to address the shifting needs within the workforce.

Global Workforce Transformation

In addition, Cognizant will promote Pearson’s solutions to its clientele, aiding them in future-proofing against technological impacts while also identifying existing skill gaps within their workforces. The union of Cognizant's change management proficiency with Pearson's insights into AI will empower organizations to redefine roles and create new learning pathways. By embedding Pearson’s learning solutions into Cognizant’s client offerings, the partnership aims to expedite adoption across several growth markets and industries.

Comments from Leadership

Omar Abbosh, CEO of Pearson, expressed the urgency of adapting to new skills in the fast-paced job market, stating that “the most critical skill is learning.” He emphasized that assisting early career workers is paramount in today’s transforming workforce environment. Meanwhile, Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, highlighted the company’s commitment to continuous learning and innovation, reinforcing the partnership’s goal to invest in transformative education solutions that benefit learners globally.

A Shared Vision for the Future

The collaboration between Cognizant and Pearson not only enhances their individual offerings but also represents a shared mission to build a well-equipped workforce for the challenges posed by the AI era. By aggressively pursuing strategies that blend educational content with emerging technologies, they aim to create significant avenues for growth and development, ensuring that learners from all backgrounds have the opportunity to thrive in this new landscape where human and digital agent collaboration is becoming the norm.

As the world of work continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, such strategic partnerships are crucial in nurturing a skilled workforce that can meet future challenges head-on. Through this alliance, Cognizant and Pearson are set to make a lasting impact in the realms of education and workforce development, ensuring that opportunities for learning and growth are accessible to all.