Wayne State and Microsoft to Build Job-Ready Skills in Detroit

technology skills

Wayne State University is partnering with Microsoft for a new employability skills program that will foster tech skills and help students prepare for careers in Detroit's growing digital economy. The pilot program will focus on creating a talent pipeline for "high-demand technical positions such as cloud computing, data analytics, cybersecurity, AI engineering and more," according to a news announcement.

Through the partnership, Wayne State students will have access to the Microsoft Professional Program curriculum, designed to provide "up-to-date technical skills that will make them more valuable to potential employers."

"Student success and employability are tied together," said Provost Keith Whitfield, in a statement. "We want our students to reach their graduation day, and we also want them to have great jobs to go to the following week. Moreover, we want the businesses and industries in Detroit and Michigan to view our graduates as integral to their growth and success. This pilot program with Microsoft helps us institutionalize our efforts and ensure our graduates are ready for 21st-century jobs."

The initiative builds on a number of other collaborations between Wayne State and Microsoft, including a technology curriculum for teachers and students through the Microsoft Imagine Academy; a pilot with citywide summer jobs program Grow Detroit's Young Talent; and use of HoloLens technology in Wayne State's School of Medicine. Future projects include a technology skills camp for high school students; a program to increase youth access to computer science and computer engineering education; and K-12 STEM learning programs in Wayne State's College of Engineering.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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