The United States tech giant Google has unveiled a new online coding course that is designed to provide job-ready skills in Python, Git and IT automation within a period of six months.
The program, named Google IT Automation with Python Professional Certificate, will be available through the online education service Coursera.
It will also entail a six-course program in beginner-level Python, which will advance and culminate in a final capstone project focused on programming for automation.
Python is currently the most in-demand programming language, as more than 530,000 US jobs, including 75,000 entry-level jobs, have made it a prerequisite to give applicants an appointment.
According to Google launching team, led by Natalie Van Kleef Conley lead personnel with Google, the new online coding course, allows anyone to learn Python, Git, and IT automation within six months.
Google also said it would continue on its promise to fund 2,500 need-based scholarships related to IT training through Google.org, its philanthropic branch.
The scholarships will be administered through nonprofits such as Goodwill, Merit America, and Upwardly Global, taking the online coding course to everyone.
Implications of Google online coding course
Many experts have expressed concern over Google and the possible consequences of its online coding course. Recently, its peers face scrutiny saw criticism over the impact of technology and automation on jobs and the workforce.
The Python online coding course is presently part of Grow with Google, an initiative unveiled three years ago in which the company pledged $1 billion to help prepare workers for tech jobs.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the tech giant would also sign the Pledge to America’s Workers, an effort by the White House to expand programs that educate, train and reskill American workers from high-school age to near-retirement.
The tech giant CEO also noted that Google’s program for certifying IT professionals will expand to 100 US community colleges by the end of 2020.
Other Google education programs
Notably, Google offers an IT certificate program that lasts for eight months and has more than 8,000 participants.
The IT certificate program is at a subsidized price of $49 a month for learners who don’t qualify for financial assistance.
Google with this program seeks to fill an unmet need in the market while also increasing diversity in the typically white, male and college-educated tech workforce.
