edX, GE and Microsoft are teaming up to facilitate the path to tech jobs for local students.
GE and Microsoft announced Monday they have committed to supporting edX students who are also Massachusetts residents in their education and career development in the tech industry.
The companies are both partnering with edX, the online learning platform founded by MIT and Harvard, to offer special opportunities to local edX students.
GE will guarantee a job interview for Massachusetts residents who complete a MicroMasters program offered by edX in one of four critical fields: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing or supply chain. The residents will be considered for opportunities as interns or as full-time employees in the new headquarters in Fort Point, which is expected to open in mid-2021, according to The Boston Globe.
Since first announced in September 2016, edX and 24 international partners have launched 39 MicroMasters programs. The four programs that GE will consider as a go-to requirement for job interviews are offered by MIT (supply chain management), the Rochester Institute of Technology (cybersecurity), the University System of Maryland (cloud computing) and Columbia University (A.I.). Average length to complete the online classes is several months, with prices for the MicroMasters credential ranging from $946 to $1,350.
As for Microsoft, the tech giant will contribute toward the cost for any Community College student in Massachusetts to complete the entry-level professional certificate in computer science on edX. Developed by Microsoft, the class is composed of three courses for absolute beginners in computer science, with an average length of 4-5 weeks per course.
“As a Massachusetts-based company committed to providing access to high-quality education that transforms lives and advances careers, we are thrilled to be working with the Commonwealth, GE and Microsoft to offer innovative pathways from online learning to career success,” Anant Agarwal, edX CEO and MIT Professor, said in a statement. “Through this groundbreaking partnership, we are providing Massachusetts residents with the tools they need to gain knowledge in the most cutting edge fields, including Data Science, Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, in order to fast-track their careers and secure high-level employment opportunities.”
