New workforce essential skills program, ACT® Tessera® Workforce, developed, tested and delivered through partnership with IYF
IOWA CITY, Iowa—ACT, the nonprofit learning, measurement and navigation organization behind the ACT® test and ACT® WorkKeys®, will introduce ACT Tessera Workforce, a new product designed to help improve workforce readiness, in January. The product will be at the center of a new strategic partnership between ACT and the International Youth Foundation® (IYF), the global nonprofit organization dedicated to positive youth development and workforce readiness.ACT Tessera Workforce focuses on measuring and improving workplace essential skills—also known as social and emotional learning (SEL), noncognitive or soft skills. Research suggests these skills are as essential as foundational academic and technical skills for success in today’s workforce and are critical for career success and lifelong well-being.
IYF’s global presence positions ACT Tessera Workforce as a centerpiece for its education and employment initiatives, which strive to prepare young people for critical job vacancies and reduce the global skills gap. The system is a proven solution that will help individuals improve their life skills and guide their professional development. IYF was an early partner in designing, testing and piloting the assessment in six countries.
“We know there is a growing awareness of the importance of soft skills for workplace success and that there is demand from employers to build these skills in their workforce,” said Suzana Delanghe, ACT chief commercial officer. “ACT is teaming up with IYF to address this important area and help better prepare young people to succeed in securing jobs and advancing in their careers.”
“As a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success, ACT is a natural partner for IYF,” said Susan Reichle, president of the International Youth Foundation. “Through ACT Tessera Workforce, IYF’s proven life-skills training program is enhanced by data and insights. We’re really excited about how this will translate into a more effective solution to help young people achieve their goals.”
For more than 25 years, IYF has led and sustained coordinated action to harness the talent and potential of the world’s youth, now numbering 1.2 billion. At the heart of IYF’s efforts is building partnerships, initiatives and curricula that prepare young people to succeed as citizens, employees, entrepreneurs and change-makers. All over the world, IYF partners with corporations, foundations, educational institutions and community-based organizations to create tailored youth development solutions based on deep knowledge, relevant experience and measurable results.
ACT Tessera Workforce is part of the ACT® Tessera® suite, a comprehensive assessment system designed initially to help educators measure and evaluate 6-12th grade students’ SEL skills and help them improve. Tessera Workforce has been created to assist individuals preparing for the workplace or looking to enhance their SEL skills to improve their employability.
“This partnership is borne out of a shared commitment to better prepare the next generation globally to enter the workforce and succeed,” said Simmy Ziv-el, ACT vice president of international markets & global business development. “Tessera Workforce is a new application of ACT’s expertise in measuring social and emotional learning skills that will add a rich new dimension to IYF’s commendable work.”
Terms of the agreement were not released.
About ACT
ACT is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people achieve education and workplace success. Headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, ACT is trusted as a national leader in college and career readiness, providing high-quality assessments grounded in nearly 60 years of research. ACT offers a uniquely integrated set of solutions designed to provide personalized insights that help individuals succeed from elementary school through career. To learn more, visit www.act.org.
About IYF
For more than 25 years, the International Youth Foundation (IYF) has focused exclusively on helping young people succeed. A global nonprofit organization based in Baltimore, MD, IYF forges partnerships to deepen investment and impact in youth employment and engagement. Whether it’s landing a first job, growing a business, or driving social change, IYF believes that every young person deserves the opportunity to realize his or her full potential. Rooted in the belief of youth as problem-solvers, change-makers, and leaders, IYF initiatives position young people to be catalysts for positive change. Since 1990, IYF initiatives have benefitted more than 7.4 million young people directly, and over 12 million additional people indirectly in over 100 countries around the world. To learn more about IYF, go to www.iyfnet.org.
