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Revenue Recognition, Contracts with Customers (Policies)
 6 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2021
Revenue Recognition, Contracts with Customers [Abstract]  
Revenue from Contract with Customer
Research Publishing & Platforms

Research Publishing & Platforms customers include academic, corporate, government, and public libraries, funders of research, researchers, scientists, clinicians, engineers and technologists, scholarly and professional societies, and students and professors. Research Publishing & Platforms products are sold and distributed globally through multiple channels, including research libraries and library consortia, independent subscription agents, direct sales to professional society members, and other customers. Publishing centers include Australia, China, Germany, India, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US). The majority of revenue generated from Research Publishing & Platforms products is recognized over time. Total Research Publishing & Platforms revenue was $275.2 million and $549.9 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively.

We disaggregated revenue by Research Publishing & Research Platforms to reflect the different type of products and services provided.

Research Publishing Products

Research Publishing products provide scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, as well as related content and services, to academic, corporate, and government libraries, learned societies, and individual researchers and other professionals. Research Publishing revenue was $262.9 million and $526.2 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively and the majority is recognized over time.

Research Publishing products generate approximately 78% and 79% in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively of its revenue from contracts with its customers from Journal Subscriptions (pay to read), Open Access (pay to publish) and Transitional Agreements (read and publish), sometimes referred to as Comprehensive Agreements, and the remainder from Licensing, Reprints, Backfiles, and Other.

Research Platforms Services

Research Platforms is principally comprised of Atypon, a publishing software and service provider that enables scholarly and professional societies and publishers to deliver, host, enhance, market, and manage their content on the web through the Literatum platform. The revenue related to the J&J acquisition is included in Research Platforms. Research Platforms revenue was $12.3 million and $23.7 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively and the majority is recognized over time.

Academic & Professional Learning

Academic & Professional Learning provides Education Publishing and Professional Learning products and services including scientific, professional, and education print and digital books, digital courseware, and test preparation services, to libraries, corporations, students, professionals, and researchers, as well as learning, development, and assessment services for businesses and professionals. Communities served include business, finance, accounting, workplace learning, management, leadership, technology, behavioral health, engineering/ architecture, science and medicine, and education. Products are developed for worldwide distribution through multiple channels, including chain and online booksellers, libraries, colleges and universities, corporations, direct to consumer, web sites, distributor networks and other online applications. Publishing centers include Australia, Germany, India, the UK, and the US. Total Academic & Professional Learning revenue was $176.5 million and $315.8 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively.

We disaggregated revenue by type of products provided. Academic & Professional Learning products are Education Publishing and Professional Learning. Academic & Professional Learning revenues are mainly recognized at a point in time.

Education Publishing Products
Education Publishing products revenue was $98.6 million and $165.0 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively. Education Publishing products generate approximately 63% and 68% in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively of its revenue from contracts with its customers from Education (print and digital) Publishing, which is recognized at a point in time, and 24% and 17% in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively from Digital Courseware which is recognized over time. The remainder of its revenues were from Test Preparation and Certification and Licensing and Other, which has a mix of revenue recognized at a point in time and over time.

Professional Learning Products
Professional Learning products revenue was $77.9 million and $150.8 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively. Professional Learning (print and digital) products generate approximately 61% in both the three and six months ended October 31, 2021 of revenue from contracts with its customers from Professional Publishing, and Licensing and Other, and both are mainly recognized at a point in time. Approximately 39% of Professional Learning products revenue in both the three and six months ended October 31, 2021 is from contracts with its customers from Corporate Training and Corporate Learning, which is recognized mainly over time.

Education Services

Education Services revenue was $81.3 million and $155.7 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively and the majority is recognized over time. We disaggregated revenue by type of services provided, which are University Services (previously referred to as Education Services OPM) and Talent Development Services (previously referred to as mthree).
University Services

University Services revenue was $58.1 million and $112.5 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively and is mainly recognized over time. University Services engages in the comprehensive management of online degree programs for universities and has grown to include a broad array of tech enabled service offerings that address our partner specific pain points. Increasingly, this includes delivering career credentialing education that advances specific careers with in-demand skills.

Talent Development Services

Talent Development Services revenue was $23.2 million and $43.2 million in the three and six months ended October 31, 2021, respectively, and is recognized at the point in time the services are provided to its customers. Talent Development Services is a talent placement provider that finds, trains and places job-ready technology talent in roles with leading corporations worldwide.

Accounts Receivable, net and Contract Liability Balances

When consideration is received, or such consideration is unconditionally due, from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue when, or as, control of the products or services are transferred to the customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met.