Google Adds 3 New Certificates on Coursera
Google has announced three new certificate programs on Coursera: Data Analytics, Project Management, and User Experience Design. Part of the company's Grow with Google initiative, the Google Career Certificates are available to anyone, with no degree required to enroll. Google's first certificate program, the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, launched in 2018, with 80 percent of participants reporting that the program helped them advance their job search or career within six months.
The new programs focus on equipping participants with essential tech skills for the workforce. They are created and taught by Google employees and can be completed in three to six months, the company said. Google is creating a hiring consortium for the certificates, to help connect completers directly with potential employers. And it is offering on-the-job training through a number of apprenticeship opportunities at Google, and will "consider all of its career certificates as the equivalent of a four-year degree for related roles at Google," according to a news announcement.
Google is making 100,000 need-based scholarships available to certificate program participants, and has also awarded $10 million in grants to nonprofits YWCA, NPower and JFF, to "help workforce boards and nonprofits improve their job training programs and increase access to digital skills for women, veterans, and underserved Americans."
"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, in a statement. "We are excited to help equip Americans with the skills they need to succeed and get jobs through these new career certificates and scholarships."
For more information, visit the Google site.
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at rkelly@1105media.com.