Collaboration aims to remove technology barriers for underserved learners while strengthening workforce and continuing education pathways
Instructure, the leading learning ecosystem and maker of Canvas LMS, today announced a collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to advance education equity through AI-powered learning technology. Supported by the AWS Education Equity Initiative, the effort will focus on helping under-resourced institutions modernize their learning infrastructure and expanding workforce-connected learning opportunities for underserved populations worldwide.
The collaboration will advance two key areas. The first is designed to address one of the most persistent obstacles to education technology modernization: the cost and complexity of moving from legacy, on-premise learning management systems to modern cloud-based platforms. Instructure will develop AI-powered LMS migration tools intended to simplify and accelerate this process, helping institutions with limited resources move to Canvas more efficiently.
The second area will accelerate the development of Canvas Career, Instructure’s skills-first platform designed to support workforce development, continuing education, community colleges and public-sector programs. The work will focus particularly on learners who have traditionally had fewer opportunities to access modern education and workforce resources, including adults returning to education.
For millions of people around the world, access to quality education is shaped not only by motivation, but by the technology and resources available to them. Limited internet connectivity, geographic isolation, language barriers and a lack of modern infrastructure can prevent entire communities from accessing learning opportunities.
Through the AWS Education Equity Initiative, Instructure and AWS aim to help address these challenges. The initiative is expected to reach approximately 900,000 learners during its first year, including roughly 280,000 underserved learners, with a path to approximately 5.4 million learners over four years.
“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.”
“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.”
Making LMS Modernization More Accessible
For institutions operating with limited technology budgets and IT resources, moving away from legacy learning systems can be a significant undertaking. Many continue using outdated on-premise platforms because migration requires substantial time, technical expertise and financial investment.
With support from AWS, Instructure will develop AI-powered migration tooling intended to make the transition to Canvas faster and more affordable. The tools will support institutions moving from legacy LMS platforms, self-managed open-source systems, homegrown solutions and other non-standard learning environments.
By reducing the complexity associated with migration, the initiative aims to give more institutions a practical route toward modern, cloud-based learning infrastructure. This can allow administrators and educators to spend less time managing technology overhead and more time focused on teaching, learning and learner outcomes.
Building Stronger Connections Between Learning and Work
The initiative will also accelerate Canvas Career, which is designed to help institutions deliver skills-first, workforce-aligned learning beyond the traditional higher education model.
Canvas Career supports a broad range of programs, including continuing education, K-12 workforce initiatives, community colleges, vocational training centers, public-sector workforce programs and adult education.
Development will focus on both access and outcomes. On the access side, this includes secure infrastructure designed for low-connectivity environments such as correctional facilities and remote locations, alongside accessibility frameworks intended to support learners with disabilities.
On the outcomes side, new capabilities will include AI-powered skill mapping that connects training with job requirements, credential and certification management for stackable credentials and workforce badges, and employer tools designed to connect education pathways with employment opportunities.
Measuring Progress and Expanding Reach
The initiative’s impact will ultimately be measured by whether more learners in underserved communities can gain access to education and training that can influence their careers and long-term opportunities.
In its first year, Instructure aims to reach approximately 900,000 learners, 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.
Instructure will publicly report progress beginning in the second half of 2026 and continuing quarterly. Reporting will include institutional adoption and learner reach and, as programs mature, workforce-related outcomes such as credential attainment, program completion and job placement.
The first year of the initiative will focus on institutions and learners that have historically had less access to modern learning technology across the United States, Brazil, Mexico and the United Kingdom, with plans to expand into additional regions over time.
The initial focus will include four key groups:
- 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 collaboration represents an initial step toward addressing the broader structural barriers that continue to affect access to education. Instructure and AWS plan to build on the tools introduced through the initiative and expand their reach to additional institutions and learners over time.