QS acquires 1Mentor to help bridge the skills gap in higher education
The acquisition aims to transform higher education by providing personalized guidance and insights into skills development.
QS is delighted to announce that we have acquired 1Mentor, a pioneering career navigation platform, in a strategic move to equip today’s learners for tomorrow’s jobs.
This acquisition marks a significant step towards bridging the gap between industry needs and academic institutions, fostering the development of career-ready, self-motivated students. 1Mentor identifies high-growth jobs and the required skills for success. It also offers targeted course recommendations to address the skills gap and allows universities to understand and evolve their course portfolio.
1Mentor’s approach is backed by significant research, including the QS Skills Gap Report 2023. Based on the QS Global Employer Survey of 98,000 responding employers, the report identified both soft and hard skills gaps amongst graduates across key industries and geographies. A recent McKinsey & Co report presents similar and complementary findings, revealing that 87% of companies worldwide are aware that they either already have a skills gap or will have one within a few years. In addition, the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 found that employers estimate 44% of workers’ skills will be disrupted in the next five years and identify skills gaps and an inability to attract talent as the key barriers preventing industry transformation.
“1Mentor is a game-changer for higher education”
QS President Nunzio Quacquarelli observed: “Employers are witnessing a paradigm shift in the skills they value. QS believes that universities and business schools must play a pivotal role in bridging the skill gaps and remain relevant in the long run as new models of education emerge.”
He adds, “1Mentor seamlessly aligns with QS’ core mission of empowering learners globally to fulfil their potential through educational achievement, international mobility, and career development. Leveraging 1Mentor’s innovative Career Navigation Platform and QS Global Employer Survey data, QS is poised to emerge as the premier source of data and insights in skills development. These insights and tools can transform how universities and students navigate the dynamic landscape of the global job market, ensuring readiness and adaptability at a time of rapid and continuous technological advancement.”
Judene Pretti, Director of Strategic Enablement, University of Waterloo, commented: “1Mentor is a game-changer for higher education, seamlessly aligning with our mission at Co-operative and Experiential Education (CEE) to future-proof our students, employers, and the university itself. Its innovative platform is key in navigating the ever-evolving landscape of education and careers. It enables students to design their journey toward career success while equipping the university to stay ahead of industry trends.”
William Hsu, a student at the University of Waterloo, noted: “1Mentor is a groundbreaking technology to advance students’ careers. The platform takes into account your current skill set and tells you exactly what you need to achieve your career goals.”
Joe Tort, Associate Director for Purdue University’s Office of Professional Practice, said: “The 1Mentor platform is a tremendous tool enabling students to better understand the skills necessary to accomplish their ultimate career goals. Students can use the information provided in the platform to design an individualized learning plan, maximizing career potential.”
The founding 1Mentor team, Martin Serrano, Esteban Veintimilla and Diego Robles have all been international students, at University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, the University of Waterloo in Canada, and the University of Queensland respectively and have extensive experience of supporting university career development strategies. They have established growing partnerships with Arizona State University, Purdue University, Tec De Monterrey, University of Waterloo, Ministry of Industry in Canada and many other progressive employability-focused institutions and government bodies.
Veintimilla commented: “We are thrilled to be now part of QS, a mission-led global organisation that stands at the forefront of higher education. Together, we will help employers, universities, and learners to bridge the skills gap, collaboratively shaping the future of education and work.”
At the core of 1Mentor’s culture is a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve their full potential. This ethos is a perfect match with QS’ values of serving and empowering the global educational community.
