Cengage Group is an education and workforce technology company that provides digital learning solutions for students, educators, and employers. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Cengage Group Chief Digital Officer Darren Person to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Darren Person’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Person said:
“I joined Cengage Group just under two years ago as Chief Digital Officer to support its continued innovation and product development. I admired Cengage Group’s strong legacy in disrupting the education space, and I was drawn to its mission to support learners with the tools and resources they need to achieve their learning goals — in both the classroom and workforce. It’s been a natural fit and I’m continuously inspired by the innovation happening in the edtech sector.”
“Technology is one of my life-long passions and I’ve always worked in this sector in different capacities. Before Cengage Group, I held tech leadership roles at a number of organizations including Circana, NPD, RELX Group, CBS and Adecco. Each had unique and exciting challenges where I focused on creating sustainable, forward-thinking products or solutions that improved the company’s overall digital strategy. Currently in my role at Cengage Group, I’m focused on applying technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), virtual and augmented reality, analytics and more to enhance the teaching experience, personalize learning and improve student outcomes. These types of technologies, paired with the high-quality content Cengage Group is known for providing, deepen engagement and better support educators in personalized learning. We’re already seeing tremendous success from the recent products we’ve launched.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Person explained:
“Our portfolio of education businesses supports all students, from middle school through graduate school and skills education, with quality content and technology. Collectively, our four business units – School, Higher Ed, Work and English Language Learning – help millions of students each year in more than 125 countries achieve their education and career goals and lead choice-filled lives. Our core products are centered around educational content that improves learning outcomes; we create digital textbooks and online products that connect students and adult learners with the skills and competencies they need to become career-ready.
Cengage School provides innovative digital solutions and high-quality instruction materials through exclusive access to National Geographic Learning, Big Ideas Learning, Gale, Thorndike Press and Cengage curriculum and technology.
Cengage Higher Ed delivers educational content and resources worldwide to distinct education markets. Flagship offerings include:
- MindTap, a higher education online learning platform that serves as a companion to Cengage ebooks with quizzes, homework and course materials.
- WebAssign delivers online testing and homework support to higher education students.
Cengage English Language Learning (ELL), through National Geographic Learning (NGL) provides quality learning products for the K-12 and English Language Teaching education markets worldwide.”
“Since education is a lifelong process, we also have a variety of courses, programs and products designed to help adults upskill alongside the shifts and demands of today’s labor market. Through Cengage Work, learners can build employable technical skills they’ll encounter on-the-job through learning programs like:
- ed2go, which partners with colleges and universities to offer online courses and career training programs.
- Infosec, which offers cybersecurity training and certification programs.
- ReadytoHire, an online workforce program that provides skills in high demand fields including allied health, IT and Cybersecurity, and skilled trades.
- Milady, a continuing online education platform for beauty professionals and students.”
“As part of our continued innovation, we’ve expanded our product offerings by integrating GenAI across business units – enabling more personalized, enriched and effective learning:
- Gale’s AI Leveler allows educators to adjust the reading level of content to meet students’ individual reading needs, without taking away from the lessons or concepts being taught.
- Student Assistant, a GenAI-powered tool that guides students through the learning process – instead of just giving away the answers.
- Cengage Work is piloting its AI-powered Learning Assistant – the business’ adapted version of the Cengage Student Assistant – across Cengage Work Advanced Career Training (ACT) courses.
- Faculty Insights, a functionality that gives educators a deeper look into students’ learning and engagement patterns and identifies areas where they’re struggling, before they fall too far behind.
- Infosec Skills Navigator, a GenAI-powered platform that creates custom, tailored cybersecurity training plans.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Person noted:
“Throughout our 100-year history, the world has changed, and we’ve made sure our technology evolved alongside it. From our roots as a print publisher to our current status as an edtech innovator, we’ve always embraced new ways of thinking and learning. Through several investments, new customer solutions and technologies and acquisitions (like Visible Body, a 3D modeling and software company for the sciences, and Infosec Institute, a cybersecurity training company), we’ve prioritized building products that meet the needs of today’s learners by helping them achieve their education and career goals.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Person concluded:
“Technology continues to evolve at an incredibly rapid pace. To stay ahead, Cengage Group is focused on continuous improvement to meet the needs of our educators and students. In this digital age, it means we’re focused on how technology, like AI, can enhance and personalize the learning experience.”
“The pressure is mounting for educators, who are being tasked with handling growing class sizes and shifting demands from learners, as resources dwindle. As educators try to do more with less, they must look to technology solutions to support engaging students, driving meaningful outcomes and avoiding burnout.”
“Developing the right solutions and tools, however, starts with deeply understanding the unique perspectives and needs of the education community. That’s why our research team continuously examines how AI is perceived, ways it’s being used and what risks it may present in learning environments. These insights are critical to shaping how AI and other technologies can best support education and skills development – and they guide our future initiatives.”
“We are at a pivotal moment in workforce development and education – and at Cengage Group, we’re committed to using technology responsibly and ensuring we’re equipping learners and educators with the content and tools they need to adapt and thrive in this fast-changing world.”
