MIAMI, Oct. 7, 2021 – Miami Dade College (MDC), Microsoft, local government, corporate and community partners are collaborating to launch Accelerate: Miami. The program will provide a pathway from skilling to employment for the Miami community to bridge the digital skills divide and route people to diverse and equitable hiring and re-employment opportunities.
“We are excited to join Microsoft, local government and community leaders to offer the Accelerate program in Miami because it will be very impactful,” said MDC President Madeline Pumariega. “It will allow us to provide new pathways for our students and the community, and aligns perfectly with one of our main goals – to prepare a talented workforce equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the current job market, while fueling the local economy.”
The Accelerate program convenes a unique set of public and private partners specific to the region to unlock new economic opportunities and create a local pipeline that empowers individuals both to learn skills for high-demand jobs and support connection to hiring opportunities. The model is based on an ecosystem partnership that provides upskilling, re-skilling and cross-skilling for in-demand jobs and a path to employment that supports their careers long term.
As part of the Accelerate collaboration, MDC is launching a Cloud Skills Challenge with Microsoft. The Cloud Skills Challenge is a 30-day accelerated learning environment that helps participants acquire and expand skills in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and machine learning through Microsoft Learn modules, all while competing with others. Those who complete in the Challenge, which begins Oct. 11, will receive a Microsoft certification voucher to complete industry recognized certifications, such as Microsoft Azure Fundamentals or Azure AI Fundamentals. The Challenge is free and open to everyone.
“We look forward to working with Microsoft on this endeavor to develop local talent with cloud and AI skills at scale,” said Antonio Delgado, Vice President of Innovation and Technology Partnerships at MDC. “This is a great opportunity to learn in-demand skills through a gamified experience.”
The Cloud Skills Challenge is self-paced, online, and free through the Microsoft Learn platform. Participants will learn and improve capabilities in Designing and implementing an Azure AI solution; Building cloud-native apps; Modernizing web apps; and much more!
“Microsoft is pleased to work with Miami Dade College to bring the Cloud Skills Challenge to life with students across the district. Through this challenge we hope to inspire students with the potential of technology to drive innovation and change the world, while inspiring them to think about their future careers,” said Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Education at Microsoft.
To register and for more information, visit Miami Dade College Cloud Skills Challenge.