---
title: "Lerny"
description: "Lerny (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, 2019/20): Short digital courses, phone-call lessons and company sponsors widen access to higher education"
url: "https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/lerny-2019-20/"
lang: "en"
---

# Lerny

**Short digital courses, phone-call lessons and company sponsors widen access to higher education**

_Never stop learning_

- **Corporate partner:** [Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/partners/pontificia-universidad-javeriana-cali/)
- **Cohort:** [2019/20](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/cohort/2019-20/)
- **Theme:** [Education & society](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/projects/themes/education-society/)
- **Type:** Platform
- **Key fact:** 4 in 10 Latin Americans with access to higher education
- **Universities:** [Pontificia Universidad Javeriana](https://www.sugar-network.org/en/network/universities/javeriana/)
- **Team:** 4 master students
- **Disciplines:** Communication Design, Computer Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Industrial Engineering

## Challenge

Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali asked for a flexible offer that improves access to higher education, given the need for degrees and the job changes of the fourth industrial revolution.

## What the team learned

Only 4 in 10 people in Latin America have access to higher education, and in some areas access is even lower.

## What they built

Lerny is a learning platform of short digital courses for practical and job skills. An AI guide called Ally shapes each curriculum, tutors are on call 12/7, learners join social projects, companies sponsor top students and lessons also run by phone call without internet.

## Impact

Javeriana is taking Lerny further as part of its own project plan.

## Full project text

A new educational platform designed to provide the best learning experience with the aim of increasing access to higher education in Latin America

### Challenge

How may we design a flexible and different offer that improves access to higher education, considering the need for a University degree and the changes generated by the fourth industrial revolution?

### Solution

Lerny is a higher education platform designed to help people who want to acquire practical or job skills, through short courses digitally.  
It differs from other platforms thanks to its 5 key characteristics that are:  
- Accompaniment Program  
- Lerny “Connects”  
- Sponsorship Program  
- Ally, the academic guide  
- Lerny “Social”

### Impact

At Lerny our goal is to bring higher education to all those people who do not have that opportunity. Especially in some areas of Latin America, where this access is too low.  
Then we believe by increasing access to higher education brings development for any society. Furthermore, it helps people to transform their reality and improve their lifestyle.  
This platform is currently being taken further into the Javeriana's project plan.

## Who built it.

- William Aguirre Zapata, Computer Engineering (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)
- Daniela Chaves Delgado, Communication Design (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)
- Isabela Cálad Lopez, Industrial Engineering (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)
- Luis Alejandro Acosta Yela, Electronic Engineering (Pontificia Universidad Javeriana)

## Video

- Lerny Educational Platform: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2jSrfsTNs&feature=youtu.be

## Sources

Summarised by the SUGAR editorial team from the team’s project page and SUGAR Expo booklet.

Open the 2019/20 booklet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HRinlCvEZz5PSpew8VDcZzSIFRCUEvxc/view?usp=sharing