American Student Assistance and IBM partner to bring AI and cyber skills to teens via EvolveMe platform

Nonprofit adds IBM-backed digital skills training to its free career readiness ecosystem targeting middle and high school students

American Student Assistance (ASA), a nonprofit focused on digital career readiness for teens, has added selected content from IBM SkillsBuild to its EvolveMe platform.

The move aims to expand student access to foundational learning in AI, cybersecurity, and digital design.

Founded to shift how students explore career paths from middle school onwards, ASA offers free digital platforms such as EvolveMe, Futurescape, and Next Voice. EvolveMe, launched in 2023, incentivizes career-related learning through short activities and challenges. It currently serves teens aged 13 to 18 and is designed in collaboration with Skillsline to include instruction in both technical and “durable” human skills.

Through this new partnership, EvolveMe users will gain access to 20 curated activities from IBM SkillsBuild. Topics include artificial intelligence, UX design, agile methodology, and project management. ASA described the collaboration as a pilot that could shape how tech-based content is delivered alongside interpersonal skill development.

Clay Colarusso, CMO and SVP of Digital Strategy at ASA, said:

“Recognizing the growing demand for both technical and durable skills that make young people more employable, ASA is enhancing its EvolveMe platform through this partnership with IBM SkillsBuild to pilot bringing tech-based skill-building content to the Skillsline platform which teaches durable human skills.”

AI, cybersecurity, and project-based learning

The IBM modules now available through EvolveMe include introductory and applied activities related to AI, such as ‘Run AI Models with IBM Watson Studio’ and ‘AI and Computer Vision – Chatbots and Images.’ Students will also encounter topics like UX design fundamentals and digital project management.

IBM SkillsBuild is an established free education platform offering over 1,000 courses and recognized digital credentials. Its inclusion in EvolveMe expands ASA’s existing catalog and may help test student interest in more complex technology learning earlier in their academic journey.

Lydia Logan, IBM’s Global Vice President for Education and Workforce Development, commented:

“As AI continues to transform industries, there is a critical need to equip individuals with the skills necessary to thrive in this new AI era. Through this collaboration with ASA and EvolveMe, IBM SkillsBuild is providing personalized, accessible learning empowering young people with AI skills, setting them up for success in an increasingly digital world.”

Courtney Reilly, Co-Founder of Skillsline, added: “We appreciate the opportunity to bring IBM SkillsBuild content into the EvolveMe platform alongside our own content, and know that the combination of technical and durable skills that students can access is key to their future readiness.”