NAF, a National Education Non-Profit, Launches Free Web-Based Platform to Help Next Generation of Talent Gain Professional Experience and Develop In-Demand Career Skills
(September 27, 2023 – New York, NY) – With a heightened national focus on work-based learning and earlier career preparation for high school students, comes a new innovation to revolutionize the journey.
NAF, a national education non-profit, which supports high school students’ efforts to be future ready, is proud to launch KnoPro, a new 100% FREE web-based platform, that allows high school students to gain professional experience in a way like never before. In partnership with industry leaders and corporations, this interactive tool offers any high school-grade student (i.e. students learning at 9th to 12th grade level) the opportunity to tackle real-world problems faced by business leaders, receive expert feedback from industry mentors, grow their professional skills and resumes, and more – with the chance to win cash and other prizes!
High school students on NAF’s Student Advisory Council collaborated on the design and playtesting of KnoPro. From the very beginning, student and teacher voices have been at the center of what makes KnoPro so unique and effective for high schools across the country.
NAF Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Dughi, said, “After a year of successfully piloting and iterating with our network and partners to bring KnoPro to life, the time has finally come! We know that the future is now, and we are thrilled to celebrate this launch. The world today is technology- driven and it is critical for NAF to be at the forefront of innovative thinking in support of all students. We can’t wait to witness the impact that KnoPro will have on the next generation of talent on their journey to becoming Future Ready.”
Here’s what students and teachers can expect:
- Challenges are monthly competitions where students can participate on a team or solo—in school or out! —where big money is on the line, just by helping solve a pressing industry or community problem. The first challenge, sponsored by long-standing NAF partner, Lenovo, called the Future Ready Tech Challenge, is kicking off on October 2nd!
- Daily SkillBuilders are fun, 10-15 minute real-world activities designed to increase students’ “future ready” skills, including critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, and earn them points and prizes.
And for professionals and corporations, they can expect:
- Mentorship opportunities: Become a KnoPro mentor or competition judge and share your experience and insights with students across the country.
- Partner opportunities: NAF works with large corporations, small businesses, and nonprofits, to identify real problems their industry is facing, build engaging content, and tap into the creativity of young minds to be a part of the solution.
These experiences help students build both technical and future ready skills that continue to be requested by employers across industry lines, and are not only important for high school students, but for other employees to be exposed to potential job opportunities within their organization, and to continue as lifelong learners.
A KnoPro pilot teacher shared, “I would recommend KnoPro 100%. I like that it’s open to everybody. I love that KnoPro provides my students with creative ways to solve problems. I appreciate how they could incorporate technology into other fields like Health or Finance. KnoPro enables students to explore their career ambitions.”
As we like to say at NAF, “If you know, you KnoPro!” Watch the video to learn more about KnoPro and visit knopro.org.
###
About NAF:
NAF is a national education non-profit that brings schools and businesses together to better prepare students of all backgrounds. Since 1980, NAF has led a movement for immersive, career-focused teaching and work-based learning. With the support of NAF community-based advisory boards, schools connect with the workforce to fuel shared progress—from creating culturally responsive curriculum and paid internship opportunities, to fostering innovation and building future-ready businesses. NAF helps students explore career options, create a plan for the future, and take part in hands-on, work-based learning unlike anything traditional public education systems can offer. NAF puts students on a path to achieving their full potential.
NAF has grown from one NAF Academy of Finance in New York City to hundreds of academies across the country focusing on growing industries including finance, hospitality & tourism, information technology, engineering, and health sciences; and support programs of study that are aligned with the National Career Clusters Framework. During the 2022-23 school year, over 112,000 students attended over 600 NAF academies across 35 states and territories. In 2022, NAF academies reported 99% of seniors graduated with 88% of graduates planning to go to college. www.naf.org