Digital Education
Open Society University Network (OSUN)
In February 2020, George Soros and the Open Society Foundation announced an ambitious $1 Billion dollar effort to create the world’s largest integrated university network. The Open Society University Network (OSUN) soon grew to over 45 organizations worldwide, many based in challenging locations, including universities in Bogotá Columbia, refugee camps in Kenya and Bangladesh, and institutions across countries such as Kyrgyzstan, France, Germany, the United States, and Lithuania.
OSUN turned to the Picker Center as its principal consultant and production partner for its digital learning solutions. From 2020-2024, OSUN and the Picker Center co-created websites, training videos, online classes, and digital case studies for delivery across OSUN’s global network, including modules for the Visual Storytelling for Civic Engagement and Global Citizenship courses. Using the “Build and Transfer” model, the Center helped OSUN plan, design, and build remote production units across 8 of its campuses, allowing local professors and students to create quality learning experiences and share them globally.
The Picker Center works with a variety of non-governmental groups, universities, and training organizations to design and implement enterprise-level digital learning solutions that range from filming and media production, support and training in digital education, the creation of learning management systems, the development of multimedia case studies, and the design and construction of media production centers. Many of our engagements are deep partnerships in which we co-create content with our partners and develop online classes and digital case studies that combine lessons from Columbia faculty and the in-house talent of our partner groups.
Previous Programs
“Inside The Situation Room” Online Class
In 2023 SIPA’s Institute of Global Politics (IGP) became an internal client of the Picker Center, with the Center working on class design and the filming of “Inside the Situation Room”, a live class taught by Senator Hillary Clinton and Dean Keren Yarhi-Milo before an audience of 350 Columbia undergrad and graduate students. Each week, a PBS/BBC quality production was set up and taken down. Presenters including former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Nobel Peace Prize-Winning Journalist Maria Ressa.
UNDP Learning for Nature Digital Case Studies
When the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) wanted to find an impactful and cost-efficient way to tell the story of indigenous leaders from around the world working on climate change mitigation projects, they turned to the SIPA Picker Center. Twenty-two digital case studies were created and filmed on location in Africa and Asia. The final films were shown before a global audience during the 2021 UN Climate week and are currently showcased on UNDP platforms and in trainings.
Istari – Singapore Cyber Academy
When a group of leading Singapore-based executives sought to build a world class academy to train C-Level executives in Asia on the latest cyber security issues and trends, they turned to the SIPA Picker Center. The Center developed and customized a learning management system (LMS), designed and filmed classes, and trained professors and support staff in delivery techniques. Specially produced PBS/BBC quality cyber security digital case studies were also created, forming a key part of trainings.
Open Gov Hub - DC, Latin America, and South Africa
The Picker Center was hired to help Open Gov Hub and its network of more than 20 NGO and partner organizations create a digital learning platform and a plan for the delivery of remote trainings at Open Gov Hub’s DC headquarters and on location at partner organizations across Latin America and Africa. Work included the training of in-house teams, the development of a Learning Management System (LMS) and training videos, and support for the creation of local media production centers.
Brazil’s National Public Service Training Academy (ENAP)
Brazil’s National Public Service Training School (ENAP) hired the Picker Center to design and deliver a public management training that combined locally created content with lessons created by leading Columbia and SIPA faculty. The result was a rich learning experience that combined video lectures, digital case studies, and lesson plans that could be delivered on a “hybrid” model, with both self-paced modules and live in-person sessions, providing a “best of both worlds” experience for top Brazilian managers.
PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab
The Picker Center provided the PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab content from its "Digital Case Method" Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to adapt for use in its training materials for high school students across the United States and beyond. The PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Lab supports high school student reporters across the country by providing no cost training materials and support.
Contact Us
Columbia SIPA Picker Center
Contact us to explore how the Columbia SIPA Picker Center can work with your team to design and implement digital learning solutions tailored to your organization’s goals.
Laura McCreedy
Manager, Executive Education and Training
Email Exec Ed Manager
SIPA | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
420 W 118th St Room 400 | New York, NY 10027
+1-212-854-0791