The University of Texas System recently announced that it has partnered with Google to offer Google Career Certificates to the students of eight institutions. Check out which areas of expertise these certifications cover and how these certificates will help students and the state of Texas.
The University of Texas System recently announced a partnership with Google to offer Google Career Certificates. The certificates will be offered to students of eight institutions belonging to the university. This is Google’s largest partnership with a university to date.
A Partnership To Make Students Job-ready
The Google certificates offered by these eight institutions aim to provide students with job and industry-ready skills in the areas of ecommerce and digital marketing, automation in Python, data analytics, IT Support, user experience design, and project management.Â
Talking about the partnership, James B. Milliken, Chancellor of UT System, saidOpens a new window , “Pairing a bachelor’s degree with a Google certificate leads to graduates who are both broadly educated and specifically skilled — a winning combination for students and employers. With the Texas population expected to double by 2050 and Texas projected to have the highest net job growth of any state by 2030, UT institutions are proud to be leading efforts to meet our state’s workforce and industry demands while positioning our graduates for success and professional growth in the modern job market.â€
The certificates will be built into undergraduate degree programs and co-curricular experiences. Students will have the option to obtain university credit at no extra cost. The certificates are available on Coursera, and students can complete them within 3-6 months of part-time study. Students will not require a degree or experience to complete them.Â
To connect the certified graduates to jobs, the certificate program has an employer consortium with more than 150 companies, such as Google, AT&T, and Dell, as part of it. These companies are eager to consider certified graduates for relevant entry-level positions.
Why This Is Important
As companies look for people with the skills required for their industries, many are partnering with educational institutions to train students and connect them to jobs.
Earlier this month, the University of Milwaukee announced an apprenticeship programOpens a new window in partnership with Helios Consulting. The program provides training on the human resource platform Workday. Those enrolled in this program will be paid Helio employees. They will also have the opportunity to find jobs with Helios’ clients once they complete their apprenticeship.
In the case of Texas, according to reportsOpens a new window , more than 60% of jobs will need a postsecondary credential by 2030. However, over half of the people in the state do not have the training or skills for these jobs. The Texas Higher Education Board aims to close this gap. It aims to ensure 60% of working-age people in Texas have a degree, postsecondary credential, or certificate by 2030. The partnership between Google and the University of Texas is a step in this direction.
Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google, said, “Google is proud to work with Texas universities and workforce development organizations to help more students and workers take advantage of the incredible job opportunities created by the state’s growing economy. Grow with Google’s mission is to expand opportunities for all, and we’re thrilled to further that effort by widening access to tech workforce training through the Google Career Certificates program. These opportunities will help close the skills gap for thousands of Texans, better enabling them to gain access to high-growth, high-demand jobs throughout the state.â€
Another key goal of the partnership is to use Google certificates to retain Texas jobs for Texas workers. This will ensure local supply keeps up with demand, eliminating the incentive for companies and industries to hire people from outside the state.
As the demand for the job- and industry-ready skills increases, we can expect more such corporate-university partnerships in the near future.
What do you think of the partnership between the University of Texas System and Google? Let us know on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window .
Image source: Shutterstock
MORE ON EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND COMPANY PARTNERSHIPS
Amazon Partners With Beyond 12 and Kaplan To Expand Career Choice Offerings
UiPath Partners With Coursera To Offer Courses in Robotic Process Automation
HanesBrands Invests $2 Million in HBCUs as Part of Its DE&I Commitment