Wiley spends $56m on STEM education courseware company Zyante

Wiley has acquired Zyante, a provider of computer science and STEM education courseware, for $56m.

Founded in 2012, Zyante operates the zyBooks platform, targetting "some of the fastest growing and in-demand STEM disciplines, bridging the gap between classroom and career, and enhancing lifelong productivity and employability". The platform is said to have served over 500,000 students across 500 institutions. 

The platform, which aims to maximise learner engagement via hands-on learning experiences using interactive question sets, animations, tools, and embedded labs, is set to become a compoent of Wiley's differentiated digital learning experience, the publisher said.

Wiley president and c.e.o. Brian Napack said: “Computer science and STEM education is in very high demand due to the growing needs of the labour market. Zyante has brought to market a transformative technology platform and an approach to learning that delivers real outcomes in these critical, growing disciplines. zyBooks delivers efficient, engaging learning experiences that fit the needs of today’s students and teachers. The rate of uptake speaks for itself, and we are thrilled to welcome founders Smita Bakshi and Frank Vahid, and the innovative zyBooks team, to the Wiley family.”

The acquisition follows hard on the heels of Wiley's acquisition of courseware and adaptive technology provider Knewton in May.