Executive Summary

Our client, a leading MOOC provider, sought to expand its course catalog with career-focused certifications and short-courses, but faced the challenge of finding subject matter experts (SMEs) who combined industry expertise with a passion for teaching. SweetRush's unique blend of L&D experts staffing and custom learning solutions enabled us to hand-select “unicorn SMEs” who not only shaped the curriculum but also delivered compelling instruction, resulting in 14 top-rated certificate programs reaching millions of learners globally.

The Client and Need

Our client, a massive open online course (MOOC) provider with more than one hundred million registered users,identified an opportunityto expand its existing library to include career-based certificate programs and short-form courses. Focusing on in-demand skills in areas such as IT support, AR development, UX design, project management, data analytics, and supply chain management, our client’s goal was to equip its users with the skills needed to excel in today’s competitive job market.With an existing content library of more than 7,000 courses that include programs developed by many of the world’s leading brands and universities, the new courses needed to uphold the quality and standards that our client’s audience have come to expect. The courses needed to:

• Drive real-world impact, ensuring graduates are equipped with the skills needed to excel in today's competitive job market.
• Engage a diverse audience by connecting with global learners from all walks of life through authentic and relatable learning experiences.

The Challenge

To execute their vision, our client needed a solutions provider who could bring academic rigor and real-world relevance while delivering an exceptional learner experience. Specifically, our client needed a partner with access to subject matter experts (SMEs) who have industry experience and expertise and a passion to teach—SMEs who can translate their deep knowledge into compelling educational content.

The SweetRush Solution

With more than a decade of experience in L&D staffing solutions and double that as an award-winning custom learning solutions provider, SweetRush was uniquely placed to solve our client’s challenge.

• Our two decades of L&D expertise means we know what makes a great SME tick—both on paper and in the virtual classroom.
• Our vast network of talent connects us with industry leaders eager to share their knowledge.
• Our rigorous staff augmentation vetting process enables us to handpick the experts who meet our client’s exacting needs—in this instance, those with a passion for teaching and a knack for storytelling.

Client Testimonial:

“SweetRush understands our needs deeply. They have taken the pressure off of us when it comes to onboarding SMEs to the requirements of content development. They leverage their expertise to help us find unicorn SMEs who are not only experts in their field but also excel at creating content. They have done so at a reasonable cost and on impressive timelines.” —Senior Program Manager, SweetRush Client

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Once screened, selected, and onboarded, these “unicorn SMEs” played a crucial role in:

• Recommending the learner journey: Supporting the client with curriculum design including consulting on the learning objectives, content outlines, and the sequence, structure, and flow of the learner journey
• Creating authentic hands-on activities: Drawing inspiration from their own experiences to recommend and co-create authentic, realistic, and impactful scenarios
• Developing meaningful assessments: Ensuring learners are equipped with and tested on the knowledge and skills they need to face challenges in the real world
• Crafting compelling video scripts: Lending authentic voices, perspectives, nuance, and stories that engage, motivate, build trust with, and inspire learners  

In addition, some of the SMEs we placed, specifically those with expertise in cutting-edge topics like generative AI and nuanced areas such as DEI, were invited to star in the videos and present the content.  

The Results

Our staff augmentation partnership has led to the creation of 14 industry-leading certificates, each featuring more than 90 hours of engaging, practical instruction that have reached millions of learners worldwide. Boasting an average learner rating of 4.8 out of 5, the certification programs and courseshave consistently ranked among the most popular on the client's platform. This feedback speaks to the effectiveness and appeal of our expert-led approach to upskilling and reskilling. SweetRush's ability to consistently source top-notch SME talent has earned us the client's highest quality rating (5 out of 5 stars) and secured our position as their exclusive vendor for SME resourcing.

When We Succeed, You Succeed!

Our success in exceeding the high expectations of today’s learners has solidified our client’s reputation as a pioneer in the online education space, demonstrating the power of collaboration, expertise, and a shared vision for the future of learning.