Microsoft Philanthropies, Walmart and the Cognizant US Foundation have joined forces to support thousands of female and minority students pursuing careers in technology.
The trio have announced a US$3m investment in non-profit CodePath.org to triple the number of campus locations offering computer science curriculums across the US. As well as increasing the pipeline of women and people of colour in tech, CodePath.org works closely with large tech firms and colleges to ensure computer science curriculums meet employer needs for specific IT skills. Since 2015, CodePath.org has helped to train more than 2,500 students across 49 US colleges and universities. This investment will enable it to deliver a ‘computer science curriculum at 150 college campuses, increasing annual capacity by 250% to serve approximately 7,000 students’ over the next two years’, said the non-profit.
According to Codepath.org, the current computer science curriculum offered by most colleges is ‘disconnected from shifting industry demands’. “The support from Cognizant US Foundation, Walmart.org and Microsoft Philanthropies is fuelling a paradigm shift in talent development where, instead of competing for the top students at a few elite institutions, we scale systems that can teach any student, in any classroom to excel in tech,” stated Michael Ellison, Founder and CEO of CodePath.org.
“Closing equity gaps in tech requires that we not only equip students with the technical skills employers are looking for, but also prepare them to navigate technical interviews and other barriers that often close the door on tech careers for women and students of colour,” he added.
‘NECESSARY’ INVESTMENT
The investment is a necessary one, not only because the tech industry is facing a talent shortage of some 500,000 workers, but to also improve diverse representation, says CodePath.org. Currently just 7.4% of tech industry employees are Black and only 8% are Latinx. Furthermore, Black and Latinx students who pursue a computer science major are ‘one-third’ more likely to drop out of those programmes than their white peers. Also, only 18% of women complete computer science bachelor degrees annually in the US, according to the non-profit.
“It’s no secret that the tech industry is facing challenges to build a diverse workforce and address the talent shortage. By 2030, it’s expected that 50 million people will be needed to fill open technology jobs, making software development one of the fastest-growing professions in the US over the next decade,” points out Kristen Titus, Executive Director of the Cognizant US Foundation, the non-profit transforming computer science education for underrepresented minorities. “CodePath.org’s model is creating pathways into technology careers for underrepresented populations in nearly every market across the US and we are proud to support their expansion. There is no issue more central to the Foundation’s mission than ensuring all populations have equal access to careers in technology. Bringing like-minded funders together means that CodePath.org can scale more quickly.”
DIVERSE TECH ‘GOOD FOR BUSINESS’
Commenting on the investment, Kate Behncken, Vice President and Lead of Microsoft Philanthropies, said: “One of the fundamental challenges in the technology sector is the need to increase opportunities for women and people of colour. Building on Microsoft’s longstanding commitment to helping young people access and learn computer science, our collective partnership with CodePath.org will help scale its unique model to ensure everyone, no matter their background, can be the leaders and computer scientists solving tomorrow’s challenges.”
Adding to her comments, Walmart’s Vice President of Philanthropy, Julie Gehrki stated: “Building a more diverse technology sector is good for business and society. We are proud to support CodePath.org in their efforts to provide more opportunities for women and people of colour, while building a more inclusive technology sector.”
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