Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science has partnered with TechWise to strengthen an immersive learning program designed to make careers in the tech industry more accessible to people in underserved communities.

TechWise, an 18-month virtual program, provides technical training through live instruction, hackathons, coding challenges, mentorship and more to give college students industry-ready expertise in software engineering. Through this new collaboration, SCS faculty will offer specialized masterclasses every quarter to TechWise students, who will earn a certificate of completion from the SCS Executive and Professional Education program. Ram Konduru, director of executive and professional education in SCS, said this partnership will help to improve diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry. 

"As academic partners in this initiative, we strive to establish an inclusive ecosystem that recognizes and integrates the skills of underprivileged communities into the dynamic tech workforce" Konduru said. "Through this joint effort, TechWise is set to pave the way for greater opportunities for students and a more inclusive tech environment."

Any student from a four-year, degree-granting college in the United States, as well as students from TechWise's participating schools — which include both two- and four-year colleges — are eligible for the TechWise program. All participants' program fees are fully sponsored by Google and supplemented by a scholarship to cover additional learning expenses.

Launched by TalentSprint in 2022, TechWise has since enrolled more than 200 underrepresented students from participating community colleges and four-year-degree colleges across the United States. The program's third cohort, set to begin soon, will enroll 110 students, including students from colleges that have not previously been part of the program.

To learn more about TechWise and its partnership with SCS, visit their website.