Udacity launches learning program to develop local tech talent
The online education company Udacity will now offer both online and in-person courses to teach Reno-Tahoe residents to become full stack web developers.
Udacity, a leading online education company announced a new local program in Reno known as Udacity Connect, that will offer both online and in-person courses to teach Reno-Tahoe residents to become full stack web developers — a high-demand job in the region.
This program is the first of it's kind and has launched in the Reno community with plans to expand other course offerings in Robotics, Machine Learning, and Self Driving Car Engineering. Udacity is focused on connecting learning to jobs training workforces for today and tomorrow.
To help solve wage growth and underemployment in the U.S., Udacity's vision is to work with local communities outside major urban cities to train their workforces to meet the rising demand for technology workers. Reno-Tahoe is the first area the program has launched through a new public and private partnership with local employers, the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN), and the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED).
"Reno's remarkable transformation into one of the country's best performing economies highlights how innovative collaborations that bring technology together with the public and private sectors can serve to close the opportunity gap. We are excited to partner with Udacity on this pioneering program that will further accelerate growth in our regional technology ecosystem, and provide a successful blueprint for other cities across the nation," Mike Kazmierski, president and CEO, EDAWN, said in a press release.
Udacity's new program in Reno consists of online coursework and in-person instruction sessions held weekly at the Innevation Center, University of Nevada, Reno. Students will complete the program in three months.
"Udacity contributes to our innovative ecosystem by helping to build the in-demand skillset and competitiveness of our region's workforce," said Mridul Gautam, vice president for research & innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Udacity's has ensured the curriculum is relevant to local market needs and job opportunities and are available for students when they graduate. They are working with local employers, known as hiring partners, to match the skillsets of local candidates to the employers' talent needs.
The local employers include innovative startups like Bombora, Cycle, No-IP, and ConvergenceHealth and Renown Health (one of the largest healthcare networks in Northern Nevada with more than 5,500 employees).
Companies throughout the region are also signing on to sponsor their current employees to add new skill sets. The Governor's Office of Economic Development is providing scholarships for qualified students, as part of a workforce development effort funded through the Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN) program.
"As a company committed to powering new innovation and harnessing the potential of emerging new technologies, we're thrilled to see Udacity's program launch in Reno and the opportunity to meet and review local candidates who possess the cutting-edge skills we're looking for is very exciting," Michelle Sanchez-Bickley, vice president of human resources, Renown Health.
Applications are now being accepted through June 2nd to participate in the full stack web development program. Classes will start June 17th and continue for 3 months. Participants can register for the course through Udacity's website.
Founded in 2012, Udacity is an online university that offers cutting-edge courses built in partnership with leading companies like Google, AT&T, and Facebook on everything from mastering web design to tech entrepreneurship. Its flagship Nanodegree programs set the standard for industry-recognized credentials. Now Udacity is growing a team of educators and engineers on a mission to change the future of education by bridging the gap between real-world skills, relevant education, and employment.
