DDB Group Melbourne, Adam&Eve DDB, and Collider have joined forces with Sir Richard Branson, Virgin, and Made By Dyslexia to launch the first University of Dyslexic Thinking at the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

The concept online university, named 'DyslexicU', was conceived by DDB Melbourne ECD Psembi Kinstan and has been in development with Made by Dyslexia for two years. The launch follows the release of a report that suggested the skills inherent to dyslexics are the most sought-after in every sector globally.

The Intelligence 5.0 Report from Made By Dyslexia and Randstad revealed that the most in-demand skills by businesses in today's AI-driven world are complex problem solving, communication, and creative thinking.

DDB Group Melbourne Executive Creative Director, Psembi Kinstan, said: "After working with Kate Griggs since she founded Made by Dyslexia, we are so proud to launch our most ambitious idea yet, one that will continue to transform the perceptions of dyslexia around the world and has the potential to reach millions of students for years to come."

DyslexicU will be hosted on Open University, with free modules on entrepreneurship (made in partnership with Virgin StartUp) and changemaking (made in partnership with Virgin Unite) already available.

To ensure that the modules are accessible to all across the world, TikTok is also partnering on the project to host a first-of-its-kind educational hub that turns the university content into simple digestible lessons, using its Symphony feature to translate lessons into 12 languages and reach a total audience of more than 3.82 billion.

The launch event was hosted by Virgin co-founder Sir Richard Branson and Made by Dyslexia founder Kate Griggs, with attendance from successful dyslexics who also feature in the university courses, including Princess Beatrice, Michael Smith, Andreas Schleicher, and Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Branson, who is himself dyslexic, said: "DyslexicU is for anyone, at any stage of life, with a curiosity to learn more about the skills so relevant to this new world. I’m a proud Dyslexic Thinker – it’s made Virgin the brand what it is today. Thinking differently has always been an asset but, in this new world – it’s essential. Being visionary and thinking creatively is a new marker of intelligence that can help you succeed."

Griggs added:, "Problem solving, innovation, lateral thinking and interpersonal skills are the most sought-after skills in every job, in every sector, worldwide. And these are all Dyslexic Thinking skills."

Virgin Group Director of Communications and External Relations, Tamara Pickett, said: "The world needs Dyslexic Thinking. Richard and the Virgin Group have supported Made By Dyslexia in its mission to redefine dyslexia since Kate Griggs founded the charity. From adding Dyslexic Thinking to the dictionary, to making it an official drop-down skill on LinkedIn – today’s launch of the world’s first University of Dyslexic Thinking is another huge step forward in re-positioning Dyslexic Thinking as the world’s most aspirational skill set."

Mango Melbourne General Manager, part of DDB Group Melbourne, Alex Lefley, said: "As someone proud of their Dyslexic tag, it’s been an incredible experience leading the global earned media strategy for such a fantastic and important project - the world needs more dyslexic thinking and this is an incredible first step."