AI-powered technology will help institutions modernize learning systems and connect more learners to workforce pathways
Access to opportunity can depend heavily on whether a learner has access to the right technology, infrastructure and education pathways.
Instructure, the learning ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS, is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help address these gaps through AI-powered learning solutions supported by the AWS Education Equity Initiative.
The collaboration will focus on two challenges that can stand between learners and opportunity. The first is the difficulty institutions face when trying to move away from outdated learning systems. The second is the need for more flexible, workforce-connected education options for learners outside traditional higher education.
Through the initiative, Instructure aims to reach approximately 900,000 learners in its first year, including roughly 280,000 underserved learners. Over four years, the initiative has a path to reach approximately 5.4 million learners, including roughly 1.8 million underserved learners.
“Education equity means building systems that work for learners in every environment, including those who face the greatest barriers to opportunity,” said Melissa Loble, chief learning officer at Instructure. “Through this collaboration with AWS, we are accelerating tools that help more institutions modernize their learning environments and connect learners to workforce pathways. Instructure is committed to helping institutions expand opportunity through scalable learning infrastructure and workforce-connected learning experiences.”
Making Modern Learning Infrastructure More Accessible
Technology modernization can be particularly difficult for institutions that have the fewest resources.
Many under-resourced organizations remain on legacy, on-premise LMS platforms not because they prefer outdated technology, but because migration can be costly, technically demanding and disruptive.
With AWS support, Instructure will develop AI-powered LMS migration tools intended to make these transitions faster and more affordable. The technology will help institutions move to Canvas from legacy LMS platforms, self-managed open-source environments, homegrown systems and other non-standard platforms.
The goal is to reduce the burden of modernization and give more institutions a practical path toward cloud-based learning infrastructure.
Supporting Learners Beyond Traditional Education
The collaboration will also accelerate Canvas Career, which is designed for skills-first and workforce-aligned learning.
The platform supports programs including continuing education, K-12 workforce initiatives, community colleges, vocational training centers, public-sector workforce programs and adult learners.
“AWS is proud to power Instructure’s reach across more than 100 countries and millions of learners,” said Aanya Niaz, Education Lead, Amazon Web Services. “They’ve built Canvas Career to serve workforce and continuing education programs that often fall outside traditional higher education models. We want to make these tools and infrastructure that drive positive learning outcomes accessible to educators and learners who need them most.”
Development will address access challenges through secure, low-connectivity infrastructure for correctional facilities and remote environments, as well as accessibility frameworks for learners with disabilities.
The initiative will also focus on helping learners translate education into employment opportunities. AI-powered skill mapping will align training with job requirements, while credential and certification management will support stackable credentials and workforce badges. Employer tools will help connect learning pathways with employment pipelines.
Focusing Where the Need Is Greatest
The first year of the initiative will focus on the United States, Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom, before expanding into additional regions.
Initial efforts will prioritize:
- K-12 districts with workforce programs serving rural and first-generation students
- Correctional facilities developing credential pathways for incarcerated learners
- Community colleges serving adult and budget-constrained students
- Workforce development organizations, including vocational training centers and public-sector programs
The impact of the initiative will be measured through institutional adoption and learner reach, with workforce outcomes such as credential attainment, program completion and job placement incorporated as programs mature.
Instructure will begin publicly reporting progress in the second half of 2026 and continue on a quarterly basis.
The work is intended to grow beyond its initial phase. By combining AI, cloud infrastructure and workforce-connected learning, Instructure and AWS aim to help more institutions create meaningful education and career pathways for learners who have historically faced barriers to opportunity.