academyEX and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), has had an impressive win on the global stage at the World
Summit Awards. In a remarkable achievement for New Zealand's Edtech sector, pioneering learning platform, Digital
Passport, has been honoured with the prestigious Innovation and Impact Award.
Digital Passport took home the top achievement in the Government and Citizen Engagement category, triumphing over other
shortlisted initiatives from around the world. This global accolade highlights the platform's significant positive
impact on societal challenges, particularly in empowering job seekers with digital and job-ready skills to secure
employment.
The World Summit Awards recognises digital initiatives that significantly contribute to achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including quality education, decent work and economic growth and reduced
inequalities.
“This recognition from the World Summit Awards is a testament to the magic that happens when industry and government
work together to create innovative solutions that are good for business and good for the individuals at the heart of the
learning,” says Frances Valintine, Founder of academyEX.
Launched in mid-2023, Digital Passport offers free learning modules focused on digital literacy and essential skills for
the job market. With over 4,200 New Zealanders enrolled in Digital Passport and over 40,000 sessions, the initiative has
already shown a profound ability to support individuals in building new capabilities, marking a significant step towards
a more inclusive and empowered society.
“Digital skills and soft skills are what employers need job seekers to be equipped with. We’ve worked with academyEX to
make relevant learning accessible to New Zealanders no matter where they live to increase their options for employment,
earning and ongoing engagement in the workforce,” says Amanda Nicolle, Director Industry Partnerships Ministry of Social
Development.
The award ceremony, set to take place in Patagonia, Chile, in April, will see Digital Passport alongside other winners
from forty countries, showcasing the best in global innovation and technology.Placing academyEX and Ministry of Social
Development at the forefront of global Edtech innovation.