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BYU-Pathway Worldwide Equips Church Members in Europe with Marketable Job Skills

BYU-Pathway Worldwide and Self-Reliance Services Continue to Bring New Opportunities to European Students

In late May and early June, vice president of BYU-Idaho Online, Jon Linford, traveled throughout western Europe to introduce BYU-Pathway Worldwide’s online degree and certificate programs as a timely response to the educational needs of Church members in the area.

Linford met with local Self-Reliance Service managers to strategize how the BYU-Idaho curriculum offered through BYU-Pathway can become a powerful resource across Europe to provide Church members the skills needed to improve employment, particularly in sluggish economies.

Linford also met with the Area Presidency, PathwayConnect and Self-Reliance Services missionaries, seminary & institute personnel, Area Authority Seventies, and local priesthood leaders to explain the benefits of BYU-Pathway Worldwide.

“As I explained how BYU-Pathway prepares Ƶ for work, continued education through local options and online certificates and degrees, there was much enthusiasm and support from the Self-Reliance Services managers and local priesthood leaders,” Linford said.

The BYU-Idaho online degrees and certificates awarded through BYU-Pathway and the certificates and degrees awarded through BYU-Idaho have been a benefit to immigrants, non-traditional Ƶ, young single adults, andd to Ƶ seeking to improve their English as they meet other members, network and find support. Local priesthood leaders see BYU-Pathway as a tool to keep members active, strengthen stakes and improve local institute programs.

BYU-Pathway will continue to partner with Self-Reliance Services to bring broader career and academic options to Ƶ worldwide.

“Many areas of Europe have stalling economies, creating tremendous challenges to members of the Church,” Linford said. “In an effort to address these challenges head on, BYU-Pathway will soon be sending a team to work with Self-Reliance Services in conducting market research and outreach to local employers to identify and prepare Ƶ for meaningful employment opportunities.”

Self-Reliance Service managers visiting a PathwayConnect group of Young Single Adults in Paris, France
Jon Linford (back center) along with Self-Reliance Services managers visiting a PathwayConnect group of Young Single Adults in Paris, France.