Here’s What You Need to Know about the Josh Bersin Academy

Today’s most contentious business issues—including digital transformation, AI and automation, pay equity and inclusion—are redefining the way companies operate.

While HR has the biggest role in determining how organizations will adapt to these changes, global industry analyst and HR Tech Conference keynoter Josh Bersin says most HR leaders don’t spend enough time or have the right resources to prepare themselves or their HR teams for the future.

Indeed, according to a recent Deloitte survey, nearly half of 10,000 respondents cited the need to upskill their organizations’ HR teams as an “urgent or very high” priority.

In an effort to help both individuals and organizations overcome their upskilling challenges, Bersin launched this week the Josh Bersin Academy, which he describes as the first global development academy for HR and talent professionals. It can be accessed on any mobile device with a browser.

The academy was created in partnership with Nomadic Learning and its integrated digital learning solution, which is designed to help individuals and teams adopt new ways of working and thinking.

The academy consists of three parts:

• Programs

  Premium online courses, covering the most important HR topics, studied in teams of fellow HR professionals.

• Resources

  A continually expanding library of digital micro-learning and support resources from leading HR thought leaders, subject-matter experts and trusted information sources.

• Community

  A global community of HR and talent professionals sharing insights and working together to solve problems and advance the profession.

The academy’s programs are designed to address the business and talent issues all organizations face today, such as HR strategy and employee experience, diversity and inclusion, talent management and technology innovations. Complementing the programs is a library of specially curated learning resources, which include articles, research briefs, videos and tools for on-the-job support. New resources will be added weekly to ensure members have access to the most current information, Bersin says.

The launch follows a multi-month pilot program that sought input from people at 16 companies, including United Health Group, Taj Hotels and Kronos.

“My background in learning design and architecture gives me a keen appreciation for the academy’s learner experience,” says Pamay Bassey, chief learning officer for the Kraft Heinz Co., another one of the pilot program’s participants. “The engaging interactions, the innovative way it encourages collaboration and engagement, and the relevant library of quick reference resources all contribute to a high-impact solution.”

The academy, which already has 423 enrollees, currently offers the following programs:

• People as Competitive Advantage
• The Agile Learning Organization
• Performance Management Reimagined
• The HR Tech Workshop
• Wellbeing at Work

Programs planned for later in 2019 include Introduction to People Analytics, Designing the Employee Experience, AI in HR and The New Role of the HR Business Partner. Members receive a certificate for each completed program, and those with SHRM certification can receive 20 recertification credits for each completed course.

“Every problem that’s new, we’re going to do a program on it,” Bersin says. “Our goal is to make sure we have content that applies across the whole board of the HR function.”

One of the stated goals of the academy is “to provide a high-quality learning and development experience to HR and talent professionals at all levels at an affordable cost.” To that end, individual practitioners and small HR teams can join the academy’s global edition for as little as $40 per month per member, while introductory enterprise pricing starts at $450 per member per year and comes with the ability to customize programs, in-depth analytics and personalized onboarding services.

Attendees at the HR Tech Conference have exclusive access to Josh Bersin’s HR Technology Market Report. For more details, click here.