ROCKVILLE, MD — Goodwill is kicking off a collaboration with Google.org and Coursera, a leading online education provider, to help people obtain the skills they need to start careers in IT.
Eighteen local, autonomous Goodwill organizations are now recruiting applicants age 17 and older to earn the Google IT Support Professional Certificate. This credential is designed to take beginning students to job readiness in 8 to 12 months using a Coursera platform, with content created exclusively by Google.
Google.org is providing financial assistance to 10,000 learners over the next year. The scholarships will be awarded through nonprofit partners, including Goodwill organizations across the country.
“Community-based Goodwill organizations are committed to helping job seekers build the digital skills that are crucial to success in the 21st century workplace through this new IT certificate program,” said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “The scholarships offer motivated learners an opportunity to advance their careers in well-paying technology jobs.”
This first-of-its-kind IT certificate will give aspiring professionals hands-on IT experience. With Coursera’s online platform, learners can study at their convenience by viewing short, engaging videos interspersed with interactive labs that simulate on-the-job troubleshooting.
When students complete the certificate program, they will have the option to share their information with top companies hiring entry-level computer support specialists. To date, engaged businesses include, Bank of America, Walmart, Sprint, GE Digital, PNC Bank, Infosys, TEKSystems, UPMC and Google.
Just last year, there were 150,000 job postings for IT support roles in the United States. Demand for IT support workers is expected to increase by 10 percent in the United States by 2026, which is faster than the average for all other occupations.
“Finding qualified IT personnel is a challenge many companies face. With 150,000 open roles in IT support, it is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country,” said Ben Fried, vice president and chief information officer at Google. “We developed this curriculum to address this problem head on. We are looking forward to working with Coursera, our nonprofit grantees and participating corporations to create opportunities for thousands of learners.”
“As technology advances change or replace more jobs, we must create more pathways for people to jump into the new, high-paying careers of the future,” said Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO of Coursera. “We are excited to work with Google, nonprofits, and top employers to grow a pipeline of skilled workers and give them the resources they need to succeed as IT professionals.”
CONTACT:
Malini Wilkes
Public Relations & Multimedia Manager
Goodwill Industries International
Phone: (240) 333-5523
[email protected]
