Cengage, a global learning company, today announced new capabilities in MindTap,® its digital learning platform, designed to help students build and demonstrate the skills they need to transition from the classroom to the workforce. Building on recent AI advancements in MindTap, new career competency mapping and Workplace Simulations make career-ready skill development more visible within coursework while giving students authentic opportunities to practice those skills in realistic workplace scenarios.
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Today’s graduates face growing pressure to enter the workforce with experience and job-ready skills already in hand. According to Cengage’s 2026 Graduate Employability Report, more than three quarters (77%) of recent graduates believe employers expect more experience than an entry-level candidate should reasonably have, underscoring the need for students to have meaningful opportunities to develop and apply workplace skills before graduation.
“Students need more than knowledge to successfully transition from college to the workforce. They need opportunities to apply what they’ve learned and build confidence using those skills in real-world situations,” said Darren Person, Chief Product & Digital Officer at Cengage. “These new MindTap capabilities make those connections a more natural part of the learning experience, helping students to develop and practice career-ready skills that can open opportunities at graduation and throughout their careers.”
Career competency mapping helps instructors and students see where coursework develops competencies aligned with the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness framework across 150 MindTap titles. Embedded directly within MindTap content, the mapping requires no additional instructor implementation.
Workplace Simulations immerse students in realistic, AI-driven conversations that mirror the interactions they’ll face on the job. Students think on their feet, make decisions, and navigate dynamic scenarios such as explaining necessary repairs to an auto shop customer, discussing the messaging, and potential impact of a marketing campaign with a manager, or advising a local coffee shop owner on pricing and promotion for new drink offerings.
Beyond these conversational simulations, other applied-learning experiences give students additional opportunities to put their knowledge into practice and receive competency-aligned feedback, helping them build and demonstrate the skills they’ll need in the workplace.
The new capabilities build on Cengage’s continued evolution of MindTap as a guided learning experience that brings together trusted content, personalized coaching, authentic practice, assessment, and instructor insight. Earlier this year, Cengage also expanded the Student Assistant and Instructor Assistant across its Higher Education portfolio, providing course-based AI tools that support student learning and give instructors actionable insights against student progress, so that they can intervene earlier and provide more personalized support.
Together, these capabilities connect coursework, career-ready skill development, authentic practice, and feedback within one learning platform. Students and instructors can:
- Connect coursework to career-ready skills. Career competency mapping makes NACE-aligned competencies visible across content and activities, helping students understand how what they learn connects to skills they will use beyond the classroom.
- Put career-ready skills into practice. Workplace Simulations and discipline-specific applied-learning experiences enable students to apply concepts, make decisions, work with data, troubleshoot problems, and build confidence through realistic scenarios. Whether it’s providing constructive feedback to a direct report, navigating a difficult client experience, troubleshooting a technical issue, and more, participating MindTap titles will include three simulations embedded directly within coursework. Students will obtain direct feedback tied to eight competencies: Career & Self-development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology.
- Strengthen learning with responsible AI. Student Assistant and Instructor Assistant provide trusted, course-based coaching, feedback, and insights designed to deepen learning while giving students opportunities to practice responsible AI use.
- Make skill development more visible. Competency mapping, authentic practice, and instructor insights provide greater visibility into where students are developing career-ready skills throughout their coursework.
- Navigate a simpler, more modern MindTap experience. A redesigned experience provides intuitive navigation, streamlined workflows, and a consistent, responsive interface designed around how instructors work.
“These latest updates represent our continued commitment to shaping the future of career readiness by supporting educators and students with tools that enhance their skills for today’s workforce and the future of work,” said Michael Hansen, CEO at Cengage.
Career Competency Mapping and Workplace Simulations are available this fall. To learn more about MindTap and Cengage’s approach to career-ready learning, visit https://cengagegroup.com.
About Cengage
Cengage, a global learning company, supports education and workforce development across more than 100 countries. Our products serve nearly 16 million digital users across K-12, higher education and workforce training, supporting learners, educators and institutions at every stage of the learning and career journey. We combine trusted content, AI-powered insights and scalable digital platforms to deliver measurable outcomes. The result is learning that powers every future.
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