Computer Science Academy for local students launches due to local partnerships

Mid-Michigan is a hub of hiring opportunities for job seekers in technology careers. The problem is, however, many of area companies are facing constraints in trying to hire enough talent with the right skill set and appropriate amounts of experience for their job openings. The tech industry specifically, faces long-term constraint in not having enough college graduates emerging with computer science degrees and training. Enter The Capital Area IT Council and friends.
 
“Before the launch of the Computer Science Academy,” explains IT Council Executive Director, Andrea Ragan, “there were simply no local opportunities for pre-college students to engage with computer science training opportunities at this level. In order to meet future workforce demands in IT, we as an industry need to promote the career opportunities of IT professionals and work with our local educational partners to ensure educational needs are being met to create the desired talent pool of interested candidates for careers in IT.”
 
Developed by the IT Council, Capital Area Career Center/Ingham ISD, and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, the Computer Science Academy teaches technical skills to high school juniors and seniors in areas such as computer programming and robotics, as well as employability skills and numerous worksite experiences.
 
“Support and involvement from local organizations is critical to the success of the Computer Science Academy,” Ragan explains, “because a large portion of the curriculum is professional engagement with local companies. This effort is mutually beneficial for the organizations because they have an opportunity to help cultivate the talent pipeline of future IT professionals, as well as promote this career path to interested students.”