Google announced that it will provide 39,000 Google Career Certificate scholarships to equip Filipino students and jobseekers from underserved communities with job-ready skills. This is to help them land career opportunities in high-demand industries such as IT.
A Grow with Google initiative, Google Career Certificates provide a suite of flexible online training programs available on Coursera.org. These certificates, built and taught by Google, are designed to provide learners from all backgrounds with digital skills within an estimated time of 3 to 6 months. The four certificate options that Google provides are IT Support, UX Design, Data Analytics, and Project Management.
“Google is committed to supporting the Philippines’ economic growth through the opportunities created by the country's growing digital economy,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director, Google Philippines. “With the unemployment rate at 5.2% and rapidly growing job postings in tech, Google hopes to address the digital skills gap and improve the lives of thousands of Filipinos for themselves and their families by providing free Google Career Certificates.”
Google will work closely with local partners such as the Globe Group and government stakeholders including the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to distribute the scholarships. These distribution partners will nominate qualified recipients and track the progress of the scholars.
“Empowering today’s workforce with digital and job-ready skills is important to lead the country towards economic development. The Globe Group is honored to play a vital role in the Google Career Certificates program in the Philippines that will help 39,000 young Filipinos with advanced IT courses,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.
"As we continue to move towards inclusive growth and employment generation, programs like the Google Career Certificate scholarships are invaluable to our mission of creating globally competitive industries. We laud Google for launching this initiative that will bridge 39,000 students and jobseekers to in-demand career opportunities in tech and IT," said Alfredo Pascual, Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry
“The Google Career Certificates program will be key in driving capacity-building and career advancement opportunities in the Information and Communications Technology sector. We thank Google for launching this high-impact program in the country that will not just create career pathways for thousands of Filipinos but will help the Department champion the economic benefits of a digital Philippines,” said Atty. Ivan John Enrile Uy, Secretary, Department of Information and Communications Technology.
Google Career Certificates are available for everyone aged 18 and above and require no previous degree or experience. By providing scholarships to the certificates, Google will create learning and economic opportunities for people in underserved communities, including low-income and vocational students and college drop-outs among others.
"The Google Career Certificates program will serve as the ticket that will help me arrive at the destination of my dreams for me and my family. The tech industry is becoming increasingly competitive and it is important to gain relevant skills that will give us a competitive advantage,” shared Shiela Marie Manzano, Civil Engineering student and a Google Career Certificate scholar.