UBS and EVERFI partner to launch college and career readiness educational program

Global financial services firm UBS and West End-based social impact education technology company EVERFI announced a partnership Tuesday afternoon to launch “Keys To Your Future: College & Career Readiness,” a digital curriculum offered to schools and nonprofits across the United States to better prepare high school students for college and their professional careers.

UBS is committing $3 million toward developing and implementing the program over several years. No specific timeline was given for launch or length.

The curriculum will include online and in-person lessons from teachers and local UBS pros about making informed decisions that will lead to success past high school, such as understanding financial aid and building study skills.

As guidance counselors in underserved school districts across the nation struggle to serve large pools of students, this program will offer a resource for students to hear advice about complex issues such as applying to colleges and choosing a career path, the company’s leaders said in a press release.

“Leveraging technology to provide a scalable solution for students across the country was essential in designing Keys to Your Future. The college application process can be overwhelming, especially for students who don’t have sufficient guidance or resources,” said Jamie Sears, head of community affairs and corporate responsibility for UBS Americas, in a statement.

“We want to simplify that process by offering high school students exposure to career pathways and the information they need to achieve their goals,” she said. “We’re also proud to engage our UBS employee volunteers in key markets to bring the skills students are learning to life and ensure they’re on the right trajectory for post-secondary success.”

The curriculum will be rolled out in 12 priority markets to begin, including D.C., Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The program is funded via the UBS NextGen Leaders, a $10 million commitment to improve college and career success in underserved communities.

The program also aligns with EVERFI’s mission to drive social change through education as it aims to reach over 150,000 high school students in 1,000 schools and nonprofits in the country by 2021.

“Our company tackles a number of challenging issues affecting society, including college readiness,” said Tom Davidson, CEO and president of EVERFI, in a statement. “Through UBS’s commitment, students will now have the knowledge they need to successfully pursue their dreams.”

In other EVERFI news: The company recently closed on its first international acquisition deal, London-based EdComs, an education insight and marketing company.