San Francisco, CA - July 21, 2008 - San Francisco-based nonprofit technology resource provider TechSoup (www.techsoup.org) and global job skills training provider, the International Commission on Workforce Development (ICWFD) (http://www.icwfd.org/) have entered into a partnership that will provide U.S. and Canadian nonprofit organizations and libraries access to job skills training courses through ICWFD’s elearning platform.
The International Commission on Workforce Development's library of over 500 Web-based courses provides training in an extensive array of information technology skills ranging from networking and Internet concepts to programming languages and database management, as well as professional development skills such as management, sales and customer service. Organizations that meet ICWFD's qualification guidelines will be able to receive ICWFD's e-Skills360° suite of courses through the popular TechSoup Stock (www.techsoup.org/stock) technology product donation and discount service. E-Skills 360° courses equip professionals with critical, emerging, and specialized technology skills that ultimately assist them in increasing their organization's competitive advantage while enhancing their own employability. The partnership with TechSoup will be the first time that these courses have been available in North America.
ICWFD's course provides training for many of the products donated by TechSoup's other corporate partners, such as Related course topics include network security, design and publishing, database development and management, e-commerce, website development, operating system and mainframe management, and programming languages.
“ICWFD’s e-Skills360° will help provide nonprofits valuable training that would otherwise be cost prohibitive and inaccessible,” explained Rebecca Masisak, Co-CEO of TechSoup.
The United Nations has recognized ICWFD as a best practice for the E-Skills360° course's ability to
enhance workforce and broad-based economic development. ICWFD’s E-Skills360° courses are available
for use by personnel and volunteers of nonprofit organizations that are the direct recipients of the courses. Additionally, in the case of nonprofits that are engaged in workforce development, economic development, youth empowerment, job retraining, and similar missions, the courses can be distributed to individual beneficiaries of these programs in the communities served by the organization.
“ICWFD recognizes the importance and societal value of supporting the non-profit sector, and is delighted to do so by providing its E-Skills 360° courses through TechSoup Stock,” commented Brad Kane, CEO of
ICWFD. “As this is the first time that our courses have been able to be accessed by US and Canadian
nonprofit organizations, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide this benefit and excited about the impact that it will have on nonprofits, their beneficiaries, and causes they serve.”
About International Commission on Workforce Development
The International Commission on Workforce Development (ICWFD) is a California based 501(c) 3 nonprofit public charity organization that is enabling the workforce of G77 developing countries and the nonprofit sector to compete in the current and future global economy. It is run by a committed Board, staff, and volunteers passionate about bridging the digital divide and providing access to 21st century employability skills to marginalized sectors of the world. ICWFD has launched a global skills development initiative called e-Skills360°, which is the only program of its kind in the world that addresses all the key barriers to accessing e-learning through high-end technology and provides access to over 500 of the highest quality certification level IT and professional development courses that ensure instructional competency and the proper curriculum.
About TechSoup
TechSoup is a comprehensive nonprofit technology resource provider to nonprofits and NGOs around the
world, employing a staff of 160, and deploying budget of just under $20 million as of June 2008. Founded in 1987 as CompuMentor, TechSoup conducts a range of programs on the international, national, and local level, including the operation of its nonprofit technology Web site, TechSoup.org (www.techsoup.org) where nonprofits share their experiences and learn about technology through online forums, events pages, surveys, blogs, and Second Life. Its distribution service for technology product donations, TechSoup Stock (www.techsoup.org/stock) has served more than 78,000 organizations, distributed over 3.8 million software and hardware products and enabled nonprofit donation recipients to save over $1 billion in IT expenses as of March 2008.
TechSoup Global (www.techsoup-global.org) extends the TechSoup Stock's mission by creating a global
initiative that serves local NGO sectors in countries around the world. It currently serves the United
Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, South Africa, Botswana, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland,
Hungary, India, Hong Kong, France, Chile, and Taiwan as of June 2008, is projected to expand to 25
countries by the end of September 2008, and 75 countries by 2010.
TechSoup’s NetSquared Initiative (www.netsquared.org) helps nonprofits worldwide take technology a step further; spurring adoption of social Web tools such as blogging and podcasting, which have the potential to transform their effectiveness and impact.
The newest offering, the TechSoup GreenTech Initiative (www.techsoup.org/greentech), helps nonprofits
examine technology products they can use them to reduce environmental impact.
