International Baccalaureate partners with ASU to give students head start on shaping future workforce

The International Baccalaureate (IB) recently announced that it has joined forces with Arizona State University to expand access to career-related studies for high school students (ages 16–19) worldwide, enabling learners to gain essential workforce skills.

Successful completion of IB’s Career-related Programme (CP) has been officially recognized by ASU to meet the requirement of proof of high school graduation, opening new opportunities for students to be considered for higher education in the United States. Students will take college-level courses designed by ASU faculty and aligned with ASU degrees through Accelerate ASU. As part of the ASU Learning Enterprise portfolio of learning offerings, Accelerate ASU is already serving hundreds of high schools across the U.S. This partnership extends the reach globally.

“We are absolutely thrilled to announce this transformative partnership with ASU. This historic collaboration is a beacon of excitement and optimism for students in Arizona, the United States and globally,” said Robert Kelty, IB’s head of development and outreach. “The alliance between the IB and the No. 1 public university for international students aligns perfectly with our missions. Our partnership signifies a new era of educational opportunities, forging a path toward brighter prospects for students everywhere.”

IB’s CP is an innovative blend of academic study and career skills that incorporates the educational principles of IB into a unique program specifically developed for students who wish to engage in career-related learning. CP is a three-part educational framework in which students are required to undertake a minimum of two Diploma Programme (DP) courses, the CP core consisting of four components and an approved career-related study concurrently.

Students will have access to more than 60 college credit courses available in the Accelerate ASU catalog. Once a student has completed a course and is satisfied with the grade, they can add it to their official transcript.

The workforce-oriented curriculum will also feature Accelerate ASU’s mastery certificates fostering job-ready skills in applied business data analytics, Google information technology support, and project management.

"Our partnership reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to higher education," said Kimberly Merritt, vice president of ASU’s Learning Enterprise. "By integrating ASU college courses and certificates into CP curricula, we're breaking down barriers and creating universal pathways for all learners. This collaboration doesn't just enrich our existing offerings, it fundamentally widens the horizon for learners globally, and we're proud to be at the forefront of this change."

The ASU courses and mastery certificates will enable CP students to engage with a rigorous study program that genuinely interests them while gaining transferable and lifelong skills in applied knowledge, critical thinking, communication and cross-cultural engagement. Additionally, a reflective project assigned through their studies prepares them for the diverse kinds of undergraduate research required for further education.

For more information or to schedule an interview with an IB or ASU spokesperson, please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-9357 or daniel.rene@kglobal.com, or Samantha Becker at 847-899-4752 or sam.becker@asu.edu.

Written by Samantha Becker and James Knutila