MIT Professional Education Earns International Recognition for Innovation and Commitment to Global Learning
MIT Professional Education is a proud recipient of the 2024 International Program of Excellence or Innovative Practice Award from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) – the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education.
UPCEA recognized MIT Professional Education's Global Programs, which offer powerful learning experiences in five languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian) that have impacted professionals at every level across geographies. Over 81% of participants enrolled since 2020 have been from outside the U.S., representing 122 different countries. And between 2020-2023, female enrollment in courses grew from 27% to 35%.
"MIT Professional Education has not only implemented transformational offerings for learners across the globe, but significantly expanded the diversity and breadth of its learning community," said Bhaskar Pant, Executive Director of MIT Professional Education.
"In a world where professional education has evolved so dramatically over the past five years, MIT Professional Education has not only implemented transformational offerings for learners across the globe, but significantly expanded the diversity and breadth of its learning community. This success is furthering our mission to provide MIT's knowledge and experience to professionals globally, enabling them to develop the necessary skills to vigorously address the great human and technical challenges of the post-pandemic world," said Bhaskar Pant, Executive Director of MIT Professional Education.
The award also spotlighted the Global Programs' innovative course design. The new multilingual model of "socially directed" pedagogy marries science and technology with humanistic fields and the social sciences to interrogate, understand, and lead societal impact toward more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This unique framework allows learners to foster meaningful societal development.
"Global Programs do more than just prepare professionals for the future, they are shaping the very landscape of global education and how, through lifelong learning, universities can be agile and disseminate learning and content more broadly, efficiently, and effectively," said Clara Piloto, Senior Director of Global Programs at MIT Professional Education. "Many participants who have taken these courses have transformed their lives and are impacting their countries and their societies by starting new companies or working on projects that achieve international impact."
About MIT Professional Education
MIT Professional Education is a leader in technology and engineering education for working professionals globally pursuing career advancement, and for organizations seeking to meet modern-day challenges by expanding the knowledge and skills of their employees. Our courses and Professional Certificate Programs are delivered in a range of formats – in-person (on-campus and live virtual), online, and through blended approaches to meet the needs of today's learners.