As part of its $100 million global Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, Yum! Brands is providing more than $800,000 in funding to launch the “Accelerating Growth” programs, which is in addition to the $3.5 million commitment the company made to launch the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence in 2021. The goal of Yum! Brands’ Unlocking Opportunity Initiative is to create opportunities for education and entrepreneurship for employees, frontline restaurant teams and communities around the world.

The two new “Accelerating Growth” education tracks will launch in the summer and fall 2024 semester and will focus on training attendees to upskill their franchising education.

“Yum! Brands is passionate about the franchise business model, and capable franchise leaders are the lifeblood of every successful franchise system. As the franchisor of choice for the industry, we are thrilled to partner with the University of Louisville and address a need of the industry – training a new generation of leaders to take on senior management roles in franchise businesses,” said Wanda Williams, head, Global Franchising, Yum! Brands. “Since its launch in 2021 as part of our Unlocking Opportunity Initiative, the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence has helped prepare hundreds of students for successful careers and business ownership opportunities by building knowledge about the franchising industry.”

Two new education tracks will be offered as part of the “Accelerating Growth” program, which will develop the skills necessary to run and grow a large franchise business: a six-month Level 1 program designed to train general managers and area coaches for a vice president role, and an advanced one-year program customized to prepare vice presidents for a role as president of a franchise organization. Both programs include online and experiential education, and the advanced program also includes a final simulation and development of a business plan.

“The ‘Accelerating Growth’ program is an exceptional addition to the multilevel franchise education offered by our center at the University of Louisville and is yet another way we can create opportunities for professionals across the franchising industry. We are incredibly grateful for Yum!’s continued support for the center and this opportunity to expand the center’s programs,” said Kathleen Gosser, director of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence and assistant professor in the .

Since the launch of the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence at UofL, total enrollment has exceeded 900 students – 418 undergrad, 50 graduate-level and 500 executive education enrollees.

In addition, the center launched the annual Yum! Franchise Accelerator Fellowship in 2022, a collaborative effort between UofL, Howard University and Yum! Brands, which offers a unique opportunity for four MBA students from the two universities. Participants in the annual program are granted $10,000 scholarships and receive personalized training and mentorship from industry experts during an immersive educational journey centered around the franchise business model. Each accelerator program culminates in a pitch competition featuring a $10,000 cash prize, while establishing winners as top candidates for promising franchising careers. The Yum! Franchise Accelerator Fellowship is open to all eligible students regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age.

LinkedIn Learning is an award-winning virtual training resource with a digital library of over 16,000 courses covering a wide range of technical, business, software and creative topics. These expert-led courses are designed to refine and develop professional skills, teach new software and explore other areas for those exploring career growth and personal development.

With LinkedIn Learning, users can development several in-demand skills to achieve both personal and professional goals on their own schedule. Courses range from less than five minutes to several hours long and can be accessed on any electronic device, anywhere.

In addition to individual courses, LinkedIn Learning also compiles playlists of resources that are focused on larger topics known as . After completing a learning path, users can share this accomplishment on their LinkedIn profiles. This allows users to easily share their new skills and qualifications with their entire professional network.

The team at the Employee Success Center also works to compile relevant resources on LinkedIn Learning for university students and employees. These learning paths, such as the return to campus and remote/hybrid support resources announced in UofL Today on June 23, are thoughtfully curated to address the current and specific needs of those within the university community.

Popular courses available on LinkedIn Learning include , and . LinkedIn Learning also provides learning paths designed to develop and improve skills with the Adobe Creative Suite, which is available at no cost to all current employees and students through .

As part of the , the University of Louisville is committed to the continued professional and personal development of all faculty and staff. Providing free e-learning opportunities to all faculty and staff, such as the LinkedIn Learning Partnership, is one way that UofL is devoted to making the university a great place to work.

To get started with the free services offered through the LinkedIn Learning partnership, log in through the . The online library is also available through the LinkedIn Learning app for and . Video tutorials, FAQs and LinkedIn Learning app login instructions can be found on the Employee Success Center’s .

An important element of the agreement is the UofL adidas Internship Program, which provides scholarship assistance for more than 20 students who work with athletic department leaders. The program provides opportunities for practical learning experiences for students who want to develop knowledge, skills and abilities in athletic administration.

The announcement was made Aug. 24 and a news conference was held the following morning.

A partner with adidas since 1998, the new agreement replaces the final year of the current deal, which was to run through 2019. The Portland, Oregon-based company will supply footwear, apparel, accessories and marketing support for all 23 of the university’s intercollegiate athletic programs. 

“When we began our relationship with adidas nearly 20 years ago, we weren’t in the same shape we are now,” said , UofL Vice President and Director of Athletics. “adidas has stood arm and arm with us through adversity and success. The biggest winners in our cooperative partnership have clearly been our student-athletes, who are at the focus of all that we do. We are thrilled to be partnered with an enterprise who shares our passion for innovation, pioneering efforts, striving for excellence and simply doing things differently.”

Below is a promotional video made to announce the extension.