TEANECK, N.J., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) and Per Scholas will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at a new state-of-the-art technology training facility in the South Bronx on Mon., Sept. 18, and welcome the first classes of students enrolled in Cognizant's technology jobs training program designed to help New Yorkers access career opportunities in the growing IT, digital and tech sectors.  New Jersey-based Cognizant is a Fortune 500 company and a global leader in business, digital and technology services, and one of the largest employers of STEM professionals in the United States.

The event will be held at the new Cognizant Bronx Training Center, 804 East 138^th St., 2^nd Flr., in the South Bronx from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., ET.  Scheduled event attendees include Francisco D'Souza, Chief Executive Officer of Cognizant, and Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas.

With a specialized curriculum, the no-cost training program will provide technology skills training and career development resources to as many as 650 New Yorkers within the first 18 months.  Students are being recruited from across the five boroughs. 

National workforce training non-profit Per Scholas is administering the 8-10 week courses, three currently underway, that will include industry- and job-specific courses and networking opportunities designed to connect individuals in overlooked talent pools with job opportunities.  Students enrolled in the initial class are studying quality engineering (QE) and testing, and application support management (ASM). Additional courses will be announced in coming weeks.

Cognizant plans to offer positions to as many as 350 of the training program's initial graduates to support its projects and clients in the five boroughs, as well as continuing to provide future graduates with career guidance and opportunities. Per Scholas will also work with other employers in the region to help program graduates find jobs.

"This partnership is one example of many in which Cognizant invests in local communities to recruit and train American workers for digitally-intensive roles. We're excited to welcome the first students into our technology training program. The exponential improvement of digital technologies is transforming industries, government, and education," said Francisco D'Souza, CEO of Cognizant. "Yet this fast pace of digital progress has also widened the digital skills gap. As a result, many U.S. companies struggle to hire all of the technologically-skilled people they need to stay competitive in an age of artificial intelligence, algorithms, bots, and big data."          

"Per Scholas is thrilled to partner with Cognizant to provide training and placement services at the new Cognizant Bronx Training Center. This unique partnership will address a significant portion of the skills gap facing the New York City tech workforce," said Plinio Ayala, President and CEO of Per Scholas. "Over the last few years, we have witnessed an increase in employer demand for mid-level technology talent. This partnership will allow us to leverage over 20 years of proven experience to support Cognizant's efforts to train and hire local. Companies willing to invest in talent outside of their traditional pipelines are finding diverse and capable employees with both the creativity and determination needed to succeed in tech."

Cognizant currently employs more than 2,300 people across New York State in addition to the expected 350 roles to be filled by the graduates of the training program. The new Cognizant Bronx Training Center will also be used to train the company's current associates in the region and campus hires.

Per Scholas is a national non-profit dedicated to collaborating with business to design industry- and job specific courses based on employers' tech talent needs for individuals in lower-income communities.

Empire State Development is supporting the $6 million Cognizant program in the South Bronx with $2 million in performance-based tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program. The funding will support the recruitment and training of the students who will be able to apply for jobs at Cognizant and elsewhere in the industry.

To learn more about these upcoming training opportunities or details about Cognizant's partnership with Per Scholas, please email CognizantTraining@perscholas.org.  

About Cognizant
Cognizant (NASDAQ-100: CTSH) is one of the world's leading professional services companies, transforming clients' business, operating and technology models for the digital era. Our unique industry-based, consultative approach helps clients envision, build and run more innovative and efficient businesses. Headquartered in the U.S., Cognizant is ranked 205 on the Fortune 500 and is consistently listed among the most admired companies in the world. Learn how Cognizant helps clients lead with digital at www.cognizant.com or follow us @Cognizant.

About Per Scholas
Per Scholas is a national nonprofit that drives positive and proven social change in communities across the country. Through rigorous and tuition-free technology training and professional development, we prepare motivated and curious adults who are un- or underemployed for life-changing careers as IT professionals, and we create onramps to businesses in need of their talents. Today we provide our solutions in six cities across the country: Atlanta, Georgia; Greater Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; the National Capital Region, and New York, New York. To date, Per Scholas has trained over 7,000 individuals, helping them build lasting, life-changing careers in technology. To learn more, visit www.perscholas.org.

SOURCE Cognizant