Cognizant Partners with Udacity to Expand its US-based Train-to-Hire Program

Cognizant today launched Cognizant® Skills Accelerator, a new train-to-hire initiative for people seeking to kick-start a technology career in the U.S. The company is partnering with Udacity, the digital talent transformation platform, to recruit, enroll, and administer sponsored online skills-based technology coursework on in-demand technology skills in the industry, including Java developer, .NET and program development.

In the fast growing, rapidly changing industry of technology, jobs are in high demand. However, the costs for technical training have created gaps in talent diversity within the tech industry. Cognizant Skills Accelerator aims to increase the pool of diverse, high potential candidates by sponsoring training to over 2,000 qualified U.S. individuals, with the potential for a path to employment at Cognizant.  

Participants who demonstrate a high aptitude in the training program will be shortlisted to interview for  full-time roles available at Cognizant or may enroll in a more intensive “train-to-hire” program. The Cognizant® Skills Accelerator program, which will span the next two years, aims to engage U.S. veterans, women returning to the workforce, non-profit beneficiaries, community college students, and other driven individuals.

Udacity's online program is self-paced, affording job seekers the flexibility to log-in and access high-quality modules wherever and whenever they are able. It will provide project-based learning taught by industry experts and leaders from Cognizant covering critical knowledge areas, such as artificial intelligence, Java, machine learning, data science, autonomous systems, and cloud computing, among other disciplines. The initiative will also feature interactive opportunities including mentorship programs and an exclusive speaker series.

“The need for qualified IT skilled workers is at levels we have not seen before, and Cognizant® Skills Accelerator is helping people gain the skills they need to compete for high-quality IT roles, which will benefit not only our clients but the industry overall,” said Eric Westphal, Associate Vice President of Workforce Strategy and Operations at Cognizant. “We’re excited to partner with Udacity to create a sponsored skills program, that aligns with the most sought-after IT jobs.”

Udacity Area Vice President, Todd Floyd, said, “We’re thrilled to be a part of this program that will have a major impact on thousands of job seekers. This initiative can be a model for other companies who want to invest in talent transformation and create opportunities for individuals to secure the most in-demand jobs in tech.”

Cognizant® Skills Accelerator, which is part of Cognizant’s Pre-Employment Program, will expand the company’s U.S.-based train-to-hire strategy. Since 2017, the Pre-Employment Program has broadened access and opportunity by training job seekers to compete for roles at Cognizant with the aim of hiring candidates based on their skills and competencies versus relying on educational background and previous work experience.

Candidates interested in Cognizant® Skills Accelerator may apply here.