College to Offer New Google IT Training Program for the First Time This Summer

SUNY Schenectady’s Office of Workforce Development and Community Education is working to train New Yorkers who are looking for new opportunities or a work-from-home career. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate is an online training program developed by Google and hosted by SUNY Schenectady for the first time this summer. The course teaches interested individuals the skills needed to start a career in IT support, which is one of the fastest growing fields in the U.S. The program comes to Upstate New York through a collaboration with Google and Jobs for the Future, supported with funding from Google.org. Registration is currently open for the class beginning on June 18, 2020.

“As we witness a massive shift in how we work, we are incredibly excited to offer this new certificate in a high-demand field,” said Sarah Wilson-Sparrow, Director of Workforce Development and Community Education. “Demand for trained employees in the tech field has been growing for years in the Capital Region. We are delighted to offer this training opportunity to our community as it gives a pathway to high-paying jobs in the IT field.”

The program is a part of Grow with Google, an initiative that helps ensure that opportunities created by technology are available to everyone. Hosted by the Coursera online learning platform, and with tailored support from a live instructor, the certificate is designed to teach individuals the skills needed for entry-level IT support positions. No prior IT experience is needed. The program includes five courses, with a dynamic mix of video lectures, quizzes, and hands-on labs and widgets. Individuals will learn about troubleshooting, customer service, networking, operating systems, system administration, and security.