Article
May 19th, 2020 · 3 min read
InStride’s academic network and corporate partners step up
When it comes to making a real difference, the importance of social responsibility shines through, while collective actions can add up to a meaningful impact. And that’s exactly what InStride’s community of leading academic and corporate partners is accomplishing.
With much of the world urged to stay home at this time, people are naturally looking for ways to connect, stay engaged and sharpen their skills.
Here’s a look at programs being offered and developed by our top-tier academic network and corporate partners.
Free online courses
We encourage you to share these with your employees to provide them with access to dozens of quality courses that they can begin right away, at no cost.
- Arizona State University (ASU), a leader in higher education with 200+ degree and certificate programs online, has created a unique set of courses in an effort to support workforce education during this uncertain time. ASU for You - Business is a portfolio of online courses offered at no cost spanning across a variety of topics and themes. This offering includes something for everyone with courses on well-being and caretaking, enrichment, upskilling and reskilling.
- Harvard Business School Online launched free Business Lessons in early April and is offering free resources that enhance business knowledge. Learners can explore short courses on courageous leadership during times of crisis and sharpen management, entrepreneurial and business skills.
More positive, meaningful lifts
Below we highlight the amazing displays of innovation and the importance of social responsibility from some of our other partners.
Developing preparedness response programs:
- The City University of New York (CUNY), the nation’s leading urban public university, launched a public health innovation accelerator to source and foster novel solutions for COVID-19 including rapid and lower-cost testing technologies, personal protective equipment design, plus mental and social health solutions.
- In addition to offering free online courses, ASU also received a $2 million donation in emergency grants to boost coronavirus rapid research response.
Wellness and mental health offerings are available from the following:
- Cigna, a global health service company, is waiving cost-sharing and co-payments for COVID-19 treatment as well as launching a pilot program to address loneliness during the pandemic.
- UNSW Sydney, a powerhouse of cutting-edge research, teaching, and innovation, created this website with tips to ensure students continue to succeed in their studies with lessons on studying and communicating well, maintaining academic integrity, plus keeping healthy.
Community support and corporate giving are provided by these organizations:
- adidas, driven by innovation and a bias to action, teamed up with Carbon to produce 3D-printed face shields.
- Aramark, a global leader in food, facilities management, and uniforms, converted its manufacturing plants to produce essential protective gear such as respirators and medical masks, scrubs and isolation gowns. They also launched NYC Healthcare Heroes in partnership with the Mayor’s Fund, Robin Hood and the American Red Cross to provide shelf-stable food, household supplies, and health products to NYC’s 100,000+ Healthcare Heroes.
- Desert Financial, Arizona’s largest homegrown credit union, donated $500,000 in emergency funds to five local nonprofits supporting critical community needs.
- Humana, a leader in healthcare innovations and community wellness, has waived costs for COVID-19 treatment and is covering subsequent treatment, including inpatient hospital admissions.
- Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, gave grants to organizations that are rapidly developing virtual computer science and maker activities for K-12 teachers, students, and families.
We’d like to express our sincerest gratitude to all of the generous corporations taking action and our academic network. To continue paying this positivity forward, feel free to share this blog post on your social channels too.
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