UW-Green Bay Partners with Interapt and global training provider General Assembly to launch new tech training pathway for students
Program aims to reduce barriers to entry in tech and create new technology jobs
GREEN BAY, Wis.—The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is teaming up with Louisville-based tech company Interapt and global education provider General Assembly to launch a new tech training pathway for people in the Green Bay area.
With unemployment at an all-time high in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the software engineering program will provide tuition-free technical training to a class of 25 individuals, giving them an opportunity to develop the technical skills needed to kickstart a new career in data science, software development, digital marketing, UX design, robotic process automation, information technology and other tech related fields.
“We’ve changed countless lives through our program,” said Interapt CEO Ankur Gopal. “There are plenty of people out there with the aptitude and grit to learn new skills and change careers, but they don’t have options. At Interapt, we’re dedicated to opening doors and providing opportunities for deserving individuals, so they have a chance to grow and flourish.”
Interapt’s model grew out of growing demand for technical talent. Like many companies across the nation, Interapt struggled to fill open positions, so instead of recruiting top tier talent from traditional pathways, Interapt piloted scholarship-based training programs to reskill and upskill their local community members to great success.
The training model combines immersive technical training with General Assembly and on-the-job mentoring with Interapt. The program is approved as a registered apprenticeship in several states, and we have applied to Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development for similar approval. As the higher learning partner, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will prepare program participants for career advancement in software and technology related fields while providing credit for courses and additional certificate offerings to further develop their business and workforce readiness skills.
“We’re excited to partner with Interapt and General Assembly on this venture,” said UW-Green Bay Chancellor Michael Alexander. “Interapt’s program takes a unique approach to workforce development and will provide a transformative opportunity for people in the Green Bay community. We look forward to creating additional opportunities in new markets throughout Wisconsin in the near future.”
In Interapt’s most recent class, 20 students completed a rigorous 12-week Software Engineering course offered by General Assembly. Upon graduating, all 20 students secured IT-related roles. For many of the students, the program marked a life-changing turning point, enabling them to break through poverty and better provide for their families.
“In this period of economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever that students and working adults from all over the country have access to the training and career services that are needed to be successful in today’s digitally-focused workforce,” said Jake Schwartz, CEO and Co-founder of General Assembly. “Having already worked with Interapt and seen the incredible results in similar regional hubs like Louisville, we couldn’t be more excited to kick-off training with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to empower and equip all individuals with the skills they need for the jobs of tomorrow.”
The partners are targeting a fall launch date. To ensure the health and safety of program participants, they are also exploring online training capabilities.
For more information on the program and corporate partnership opportunities visit: Website interapt.com/green-bay-training-program/or contact Ankur Gopal at: Ankur.gopal@interapt.com or 502-251-1511.
About the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay is a comprehensive public institution offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs to more than 8,700 students with campus locations in Green Bay, Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. Established in 1965 on the border of Green Bay, the University and its campuses are centers of cultural enrichment, innovation and learning. The Green Bay campus is home to one of the Midwest’s most prolific performing arts centers, a nationally recognized 4,000-seat student recreation center, D-I athletics, an award-winning nine-hole golf course and a five-mile recreational trail and arboretum, which is free and open to the public. This four-campus University transforms lives and communities through student-focused teaching and research, innovative learning opportunities, powerful connections and a problem-solving approach to education. UW-Green Bay’s main campus is centrally located, close to both the Door County resort area and the dynamic economies of Northeast Wisconsin, the Fox Valley region and the I-43 corridor. UW-Green Bay offers in-demand programs in science, engineering and technology; business; health, education and social welfare; and arts, humanities and social sciences. For more information, visit www.uwgb.edu.
About UW-Green Bay’s Division of Continuing Education and Community Engagement
The Division of Continuing Education and Community Engagement focuses its mission on creating educational opportunity and access for all ages, encompassing K-12 student programs, personal and professional development and customized training to meet the needs of a progressive economy. The division develops, collaborates and executes responsive solutions for diverse communities statewide, all of which reflect a deep commitment to inclusion, social justice and civic responsibility
About Interapt
Founded in 2011, Interapt is a technology services firm that helps companies address their software and technology needs. With expertise in fields such as custom software development, UX & Design, IT Support, and others, Interapt also helps companies develop a more robust and diverse talent pipeline. Interapt’s innovative training and apprenticeship program provides tuition-free training to the unemployed, underemployed, and Veterans and their spouses, providing them an opportunity to launch promising new careers in the tech industry. To learn more about Interapt and their training programs, visit https://interapt.com.
About General Assembly
General Assembly (GA) is a pioneer in education and career transformation, specializing in today’s most in-demand skills. The leading source for training, staffing and career transitions, GA fosters a flourishing community of professionals pursuing careers they love. Focusing on the most relevant and in-demand skills across data, design, business, and technology, GA confronts the global skills gap through award-winning, best-in-class instruction and innovative opportunities across diverse communities. GA works with students online and in-person across the globe and partners with top employers to help companies source, assess and transform talent. To learn more, visit https://generalassemb.ly.
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