New Training Program Aims to Diversify IT

The CompTIA Educational Foundation has announced a new IT job training initiative under which it will create a fund to help returning veterans, people with disabilities and disadvantaged minorities break into the IT industry.

Announced at the organizations SMB Summit in Tucson, Ariz., from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, the Creating Futures program will be initially funded with $3 million drawn from the vendor membership of the organization, said Wayne Mize, chair of the CompTIA board of directors who also serves as vice president at the Netsourcing Business Center in the Document Solutions & Services Division of Ricoh U.S. in West Caldwell, N.J.

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According to Mize, CompTIA plans to solicit additional funds from its membership to add additional tax-deductible funds to the program.

"The idea is to introduce people to technology as part of an effort to expand the base of technology jobs in the U.S.," said Mize.

Click here to read more about a program that seeks to bring laptops to disadvantaged students.

Rather than administer the training directly, Mize said he expects CompTIA to reach out to any number of organizations that work directly with the constituencies that the program is intended to help.

After identifying, selecting and preparing candidates from underrepresented populations through training, certification and work experience, the program intends to assist in the placement of these individuals into long-term IT jobs.

Already boasting nearly 600 individuals placed in IT industry careers, the programs site highlights six stories of disadvantaged people who have completed CompTIA certification programs demonstrating foundation skills.

Creating Futures intends to conduct annual research on emerging skills and latest technologies to help keep workers in demand as well as to develop model programs that include both career prep and skill validation.

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