EPAM's talent development solution to help individuals in need has had worldwide impact.

It's common—and, indeed, an employee expectation—for employers to offer training to their staff. However, how customary is it for employers to design a free upskilling initiative specifically for their employees' loved ones?

That is exactly what EPAM Systems, a US-based software engineering firm, set out to achieve after many of its employees and their families fled from their homes in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, which were among the company's largest delivery locations prior to the escalation of the region's conflict in February 2022. "In those relocated groups, most spouses and partners who moved during that time were struggling to adapt to their new situation, especially in areas such as finding a new job and applying their skills and qualifications in a brand-new market," explains Iryna Sokolova, manager of talent development at EPAM.

Considering its culture of continuous learning, the company decided to aid the family members by developing the UpSkill Me program. Note that the initiative was more comprehensive than allowing free access to online learning modules. Although that was one aspect of UpSkill Me, EPAM also offered mentoring opportunities and assigned hands-on work to ensure participants could put what they learned into practice.

The goal was to empower family members of EPAM employees through education and skills acquisition, Sokolova says. "Whether working in the IT industry or continuing their own career paths, the program gave participants access to a range of in-demand skills, new opportunities for personal and professional growth, and helped them gain new expertise to enhance their employability."

To recognize those efforts, ATD presented EPAM with the 2024 Talent Development for Good Award, which goes to organizations that leveraged TD "to make significant contributions to improve the lives of others, changed an industry or community for the better, or served society in a powerful way."

A trio of options

UpSkill Me consisted of three phases: Upskill Me Navigator, UpSkill Mentoring Program, and EPAM Labs.

Upskill Me Navigator was an online, self-paced program developed by EPAM subject matter experts. It comprised:

• Soft skills courses addressing topics such as problem solving, negotiation, curriculum vitae preparation, and adapting to a new country

• Technical programs such as IT, business analysis (BA), and cloud fundamentals

• English language courses

• Career counseling

Participants accessed the resources via the company's online learning system, which included up to 90 hours of content.

The UpSkill Mentoring Program involved a blended learning approach that combined theory with practical, hands-on assignments as well as mentoring sessions. Internal SMEs created content consistent with industry trends and recommended the hands-on experiences. In addition, staff with engineering expertise served as mentors, providing guidance and support to their mentees. To join the program, Sokolova explains, participants had to complete the IT or BA Fundamentals course, score above 70 percent in a subsequent exam, and pass an English test.

The final phase, EPAM Labs, offered participants an additional opportunity to gain practical experience and reinforce their learning from the previous modules. Sokolova states that the phase "was designed to provide deep knowledge in specific technical areas, imitating the real-world scenarios faced by EPAM's engineers in their daily work." Activities included complex problem-solving exercises, development of specific modules or functionalities, coding and debugging, as well as system analysis and design.

"This approach not only helped solidify the theoretical knowledge they had gained but also provided them with invaluable practical experience of working under deadlines and managing their workflow efficiently as they would in a real-world IT job setting," Sokolova says.

A team effort

Top company management, the L&D team, and a cohort of SMEs worked in tandem to develop the UpSkill Me initiative. The L&D team used the ADDIE model to ensure the training solution met learners' needs and stakeholders' expectations, Sokolova notes. The team also trained SMEs, who took on the role of trainer or mentor. In total, 270 SMEs, including 250 mentors, volunteered their time to make UpSkill Me a success.

"Their hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of current industry trends were invaluable in developing content for the program and providing needed guidance to participants," Sokolova remarks. "The genuine dedication, knowledge, and expertise of our SMEs played a crucial part in participants' successful learning journey."

In the end, the program became a win-win: Participants obtained IT-related skills and SMEs gained professional development. "Talent development was at the heart of the Upskill Me program, making it a true testament to the power of learning and development in creating positive societal impact," stresses Sokolova.

Global reach

EPAM rolled out all three phases of UpSkill Me in April and May 2022. Access to UpSkill Me Navigator remained open until February 2024; registration for the mentoring program closed in December 2022, with participants continuing their learning journeys through August 2023; and the final group of EPAM Labs participants completed their work in December 2023.

"Program participants left positive feedback for the whole UpSkill Me program in general and for its parts separately," Sokolova says. "Upon completing the program, participants shared that they planned to further develop their technical expertise and seek employment opportunities where they could apply their newly gained knowledge and skills."

EPAM reports that the UpSkill Me program garnered more than 8,400 registrations from more than 20 countries. Although the company initially designed the program for staff's family members, EPAM opened access to UpSkill Me Navigator to the public, regardless of their affiliation with the company. "This proves the widespread need for such initiatives and the value it brought to participants," Sokolova notes.

Further, the UpSkill Mentoring Program attracted 454 individuals seeking mentorship, with more than 150 graduating from it and earning a certificate of completion. EPAM even hired 17 UpSkill Me participants.

"The success of the UpSkill Me program highlighted the significant, transformative role of education and skill-building initiatives, particularly in crisis management scenarios," Sokolova says. "We are incredibly proud of how the program helped make a positive impact for so many people and supported them in navigating through extraordinarily challenging circumstances."