October 22, 2015

Accenture to Help Upwardly Global Expand Jobs Training Program for Immigrants and Refugees in the U.S.

Company to enhance nonprofit’s virtual jobs training platform

NEW YORK; October 22, 2015 – Accenture has granted US$1.2 million to Upwardly Global to help the nonprofit expand and enhance its national jobs training program and equip 1,700 unemployed and under-employed immigrants and refugees with career skills.

Accenture’s grant, which is a mix of cash and pro-bono services, will enable Upwardly Global to secure jobs for 750 of these individuals and help the nonprofit pilot new ways to scale its training program to reach more immigrants and refugees across the U.S.

As a part of the grant, Accenture will enhance the nonprofit’s Online Employment Training Program by improving its core training curriculum, building online learning communities by industry, and creating a virtual network for job seekers to interact with peers, volunteers and alumni. Developed in part by Accenture, the online program helps skilled immigrants and refugees rebuild their professional careers through access to free interactive trainings on job search skills, resume writing, interviewing and networking.

“Our partnership with Upwardly Global represents a unique opportunity to make a measureable impact for a population whose experience and potential is often overlooked,” said Larry Solomon, North America chief operating officer and corporate citizenship lead for Accenture. “By combining our capabilities and expertise, we’re working together to provide better access to the skills training these individuals need to be successful.”

Said Nikki Cicerani, President and CEO, Upwardly Global, “This grant will enable Upwardly Global to meaningfully scale our training and strengthen our online learning tools to provide the skills and resources that are so essential to immigrant success in the U.S. – Accenture continues to be a crucial strategic partner as we grow our program to train 10,000 immigrant professionals over the next five years."

The grant is a part of Accenture’s corporate citizenship initiative, Skills to Succeed, which is equipping more than 3 million people around the world with the skills to get a job or build a business. Since 2011, more than 1,700 Accenture employees have volunteered approximately 5,000 hours with Upwardly Global to provide job preparation and counselling services such as mentoring and networking events and mock interviews. Additionally, Upwardly Global job seekers are encouraged to apply for jobs at Accenture upon completion of the program.

Upwardly Global’s training helped Alexandru re-enter the information technology field.
Alexandru now works as a software engineer at Accenture, earning three times more than
he earned as a mover when he first arrived in the United States.

Alexandru, for example, moved to the United States from Moldova. He had more than three years of software development experience in his native country, but struggled to find a job due to difficulties navigating a foreign job market. Upwardly Global’s training helped Alexandru adjust his resume, write a cover letter, network and prepare for interviews so he could re-enter the information technology field. Alexandru now works as a software engineer at Accenture, earning three times more than he earned as a mover when he first arrived in the United States, and saving four times more than he could save doing a similar job in his native country.

Eligibility requirements for Upwardly Global’s services include Green Card or Refugee/Asylee status, as well as professional work experience and a bachelor’s degree or higher from outside the U.S. Upwardly Global’s training program includes a series of 18 self-paced training modules and more than 50 downloadable resources targeted to helping users acquire the techniques and cultural know-how needed to market themselves as competitive candidates for U.S. jobs. It is complimented by additional technical trainings provided by Accenture and other external training partners.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with more than 358,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. Through its Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship initiative, Accenture is equipping more than 3 million people around the world with the skills to get a job or build a business. The company generated net revenues of US$31.0 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2015. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

About Upwardly Global
Upwardly Global, founded in 2000, is the leading nonprofit organization in the U.S. helping work-authorized, skilled immigrants and refugees rebuild their professional careers by providing job search training and connecting them with employers seeking to develop a pipeline of global talent. To date, the organization has trained more than 8,000 foreign-educated immigrants and has assisted over 3,000 individuals back into their career fields.

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Contacts:

Sam Hyland
Accenture
+ 1 917 452 5184
samuel.hyland@accenture.com

Meghan Lewit
Upwardly Global
+ 1 312 431 1923
meghan@upwardlyglobal.org