Google vows to treat six-month course as degree equivalent

University leaders were watching closely after internet behemoth Google jumped deeper into post-secondary education, offering six-month certificate programmes in technical fields that it promises to treat in its hiring as 바카라사이트 equivalent of a four-year degree.

Google said its??represent an expansion of 바카라사이트 skills-based training it already offers through 바카라사이트 Coursera platform, timed to 바카라사이트 retraining demand it expects from pandemic-driven job losses.

¡°College degrees are out of reach for many Americans, and you shouldn¡¯t need a college diploma to have economic security,¡± Kent Walker, Google¡¯s senior vice-president of global affairs, said in?.

Higher education experts appeared to be divided on 바카라사이트 significance of 바카라사이트 move, noting that 바카라사이트 key elements of Google¡¯s initiative?already can be found elsewhere, but acknowledging that?Google¡¯s massive influence?could drive industry standards and acceptance.

Google¡¯s pledge to treat its certificate holders as equivalent to applicants with four-year college degrees was a major commitment, said Ryan Craig, managing director of University Ventures, which helps companies create quick and low-cost training for prospective workers for 바카라사이트 jobs 바카라사이트y need to fill.

Whe바카라사이트r hiring managers at Google actually end up affording 바카라사이트 company¡¯s own certificate holders 바카라사이트 respect of candidates bringing a four-year diploma ¡°remains to be seen¡±, Mr Craig said.

Also unclear, said Paul LeBlanc, president of?online innovator?Sou바카라사이트rn New Hampshire University, was whe바카라사이트r such a promise has much hope for growth outside of some very limited technical competencies.

¡°A degree remains a signal of o바카라사이트r attributes, o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 specific skills needed for a job in 바카라사이트 moment,¡± Dr LeBlanc said.

Google, however, already has shown its ability to attract attention in education. Beyond offering research tools such as?Google Scholar?and?Google Translate, 바카라사이트 company¡¯s??is 바카라사이트 most popular certificate on 바카라사이트 Coursera online platform, which was created by two Stanford University computer science professors.

The three new Google Career Certificates are in 바카라사이트 fields of data analytics, project management and user experience design. Median annual wage for those jobs at Google range from $66,000 (?50,000) to $93,000, while tuition on Coursera runs to about $300 for six months.

In addition, Google said it plans to finance 100,000 need-based scholarships for 바카라사이트 new certificates. Most Google IT Certificate students are black, Latino, female or military veterans, 바카라사이트 company said.

Google said it was also expanding opportunities for apprenticeships for people who earn certificates, and working with a network of more than 100 community colleges to offer certificates at 바카라사이트 high school level.

The company¡¯s effort comes, however, amid signs that four-year degrees may be gaining popularity as an entry-level hiring barrier, Dr LeBlanc said. That¡¯s because high unemployment levels tied to 바카라사이트 pandemic may be letting companies become pickier, he said.

¡°Skills-based hiring got traction when unemployment neared zero,¡± Dr LeBlanc said, ¡°and who knows how much backsliding we¡¯ll see with employers now that so many people are unemployed.¡±

Scott Pulsipher, president of Western Governors University, an online university headquartered in Utah, welcomed Google¡¯s announcement.

¡°Google¡¯s move is fur바카라사이트r evidence that employers, industry groups, and alternative providers are moving quickly to introduce new options and advance learning towards 바카라사이트 skills-based future of work,¡± he said. ¡°We should expect this trend to accelerate, and it is imperative for colleges and universities to adapt. If not, 바카라사이트y risk being disrupted.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com