In a national first, Connecticut will offer the Google Career Certificates tech-training program at all state colleges, universities, community colleges and career and technical high schools.
Infosys has already pledged to hire 250 program graduates at its Hartford location, according to a statement.
The courses are being offered as a result of a deal with Google, the Connecticut Office of Workforce Strategy and the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system.
“We are thrilled to be the first in the nation to offer all Google Career Certificates on a statewide basis,” CSCU President Terrence Cheng said.
Offered through online platform Coursera, the Google programs offer training in four tech fields: IT support, data analytics, project management and UX design. First to launch will be the IT support program in early 2022 at Connecticut community colleges, followed by the rest of the certificates in the spring and summer.
“We have employers that are looking to hire individuals with these digital skills,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “This is exactly what workforce development is all about.”
Students are expected to complete the courses within three to six months and become eligible for jobs with an average starting salary of $69,000, according to a statement by Lamont’s office.
After earning a certificate, graduates can share their resumes with an employer consortium of more than 150 companies including Infosys, Verizon, Walmart, Wayfair and Google.
According to Google, 53% of its certificate program graduates identify as Black, Latino, female, or veteran, and 82% report a raise, promotion or new job within six months of completion.
