MrBeast partnership builds on history of educational innovation at ECU

At East Carolina University, innovation is more than just a buzzword – it’s a mission.

ECU’s exclusive educational partnership with MrBeast is the latest in a long line of innovation and another example of the university meeting learners where they are. Before there was even an Internet, ECU professors delivered courses via video. The university was a pioneer in online education, and today reaches students around the world through distance education and the Global Classroom.

ECU is a nationally recognized leader for innovation, educational leadership and strong ability to deliver courses online. In 1954, East Carolina offered the first televised courses for credit in the South, and in 1998 the university launched its first fully online degree program. ECU was listed sixth nationally and number one in North Carolina for distance education in a 2022 ranking of America’s Top Online Colleges by Newsweek.

"ECU has long been recognized as North Carolina’s leader in online education," said Dr. Allen O. Guidry, interim vice provost for academic affairs at ECU, when the ranking was announced. "For many years that meant that we were a pioneer in online learning in the state. In recent years it has meant that we have provided more online options for students through a variety of program offerings. This ranking is an acknowledgement of the high quality of the online experience for students in our more than 100 online programs and a testament to the dedication, innovation and expertise of our online teaching faculty."

Over the years, ECU has been on the vanguard of unique, cutting-edge change that greatly benefits its students, faculty and the region.

Most recently, ECU entered into an exclusive educational partnership with MrBeast to develop a credentialing program to help solve the creator industry’s growing demand for a skilled workforce. Jimmy Donaldson, a Greenville native known as MrBeast, is the most successful YouTube content creator in history. His brand is the largest on the YouTube platform with five channels and more than 138 million subscribers, and his videos, which often feature wild stunts as well as charity challenges, have received 20 billion views collectively.

In 2022, Donaldson earned the top spot on the Forbes list of Top Creators. His creator brand, headquartered in Greenville, is built on four pillars: spectacles, philanthropy, general good and in-real-life comedy of family-friendly content. His collaboration with ECU will not focus on finding the next YouTube star, but instead will provide training and credentialing for employees who work for creator companies that produce content.

Donaldson’s involvement is significant. The creator industry, valued by Fast Company at $104 billion annually, includes more than 50 million amateurs and 2 million professionals, of which more than 1 million earn a living on YouTube alone. The need for highly qualified staff drives the creation of this program. The microcredential courses will be delivered fully online and prepare enrollees for entry-level positions in camera work, editing, analytics and other needed creator industry skills.

"ECU has always stepped up to support our key partners in innovative ways, and this new learner-centered strategy is designed to meet the educational needs of the creator economy at a critical moment in the evolution of this growing industry," said ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers when the partnership was announced in 2022.