Google, the world’s most powerful tech giant, has announced that it will be providing financial support to students who complete their certification program in data analysis, project management, and user experience (UX) design.
The company said it would consider all of the online Google Career Certificates equivalent to a four-year college degree.
These scholarships and online certificates, referred to as the “Digital Jobs Program to Support the Recovery of the American Economy”, come during record-high joblessness in the U.S. due to quarantines and shutdowns that have been implemented to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Kent Walker, senior vice president of global affairs at Google, said in a blog post:
“College degrees are out of reach for many Americans, and you shouldn’t need a college diploma to have economic security.”
Many colleges and universities, along with workplaces, were closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, 60% of campuses say they would hold classes in person this fall, 9% say they would be online-only, and 24% say they would offer a mixture of online and in-person courses.
Walker further wrote: “We need new, accessible job-training solutions – from enhanced vocational programs to online education – to help America recover and rebuild.”
The courses usually cost $49 a month, but the company stated that it would make available 100,000 need-based scholarships, funded by Google for individuals enrolled in any of these career certificate programs.
1. Data Analytics – Google stated that data analysts could earn $66,000 a year (median) and analyze data and make data-driven recommendation making to ensure better decision-making. The certificate offers the tools for “navigating the data lifecycle using tools and platforms to prepare, process, and analyze data for gaining critical insights from data.
2. Project Management – Google further stated that project managers could earn $93,000 a year (median) and help in project planning and monitoring. This online certificate focuses on traditional project management while also offering actionable insight into agile project management.
3. User Experience (UX) Design – Google said that UX designers could earn $75,000 a year (median) and help create a simpler, more user-friendly experience for users. This online certificate includes lessons in design, wireframes, and prototypes.
The studies will be hosted on Coursera, an online learning platform founded by Daphne Koller, who studied at Stanford University and the University of California-Berkeley, and Andrew Ng who studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and UC-Berkeley. Koller and Ng are professors at Stanford University.
In 2018, Google also launched a similar certificate program for those interested in the IT field.
