RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Don’t have a college degree? No problem.
Google wants to get more people working in skilled tech jobs. So it’s offering more pathways through new certificates offered on the online learning platform Coursera. No degree is required to enroll.
Part of the Grow with Google economic opportunity initiative, the tech giant has launched three new Google Career Certificates in high-growth, high-paying fields. They include: IT Support Professional (IT Cert) and Automation with Python Certificates that have helped break barriers for underserved groups to enter the tech workforce.
They will focus on Data Analytics, Project Management, and User Experience (UX) Design.
Google will also fund 100,000 need-based scholarships for individuals enrolled in any of these Career Certificate programs.
Google said it will consider all of its Career Certificates as the equivalent of a four-year degree for related roles.
“College degrees are out of reach for many Americans, and you shouldn’t need a college diploma to have economic security,” said Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs at Google, in a statement. “We need new, accessible job-training solutions—from enhanced vocational programs to online education—to help America recover and rebuild.”
In coordination with the new Career Certificates, Google.org will also award over $10 million in job grants to three nonprofits — the YWCA, NPower, and JFF.
In North Carolina, part of the YWCA grant will go to the Wilmington YWCA Association to help develop programming that will help reach women through workforce development and digital skills programs that are focused on a pathway to jobs. As part of this effort, YWCA will also offer scholarships for the Google IT Cert.
“Google wants to ensure that technology helps all Americans emerge from this economic crisis — without limitation based on zip code, race, background or education level,” said Lisa Gevelber, Vice President of Grow with Google. “We are excited to help equip Americans with the skills they need to succeed and get jobs through these new career certificates and scholarships.”
Google will also create a hiring consortium for the new certificates, along with offering hundreds of apprenticeship opportunities at Google to provide graduates with on-the-job training. Starting this fall, the certificates will also be offered in Career and Technical Education high schools throughout America, starting with the IT Cert.
This builds on an established partnership with more than 100 community colleges. The IT Cert is currently taught in seven North Carolina community colleges, including: Montgomery Community College, Piedmont Community College, Surry Community College.
The Google Career Certificates are being created and taught by Google employees and can be completed in three to six months. Starting today, anyone can pre-register for the programs online.
