Google announces certificate programs to disrupt college system

[Chew Toy McCoy]

Inside Google's $240 Plan to Disrupt the College Degree (Exclusive)

Get a first look at Google's new certificate programs and a new feature of Google Search designed to help job seekers everywhere.

www.inc.com

It’s a step but I wish they offered programs that didn’t just benefit Google’s potential hires. I still see it as part of the “just get a degree!” Democrat answer to every problem bubble.

Is it Google’s job to train people outside what Google might need as an employee? No, but I think it shows how Silicon Valley’s supposed “making the world a better place” ethos mostly just applied when their is an upfront benefit to Silicon Valley. Being a coding slave isn’t for everyone.

How about something like renewable energy infrastructure training? These systems aren’t going to install and maintain themselves.

 

[User.45]

Inside Google's $240 Plan to Disrupt the College Degree (Exclusive)

Get a first look at Google's new certificate programs and a new feature of Google Search designed to help job seekers everywhere.

www.inc.com

It’s a step but I wish they offered programs that didn’t just benefit Google’s potential hires. I still see it as part of the “just get a degree!” Democrat answer to every problem bubble.

Is it Google’s job to train people outside what Google might need as an employee? No, but I think it shows how Silicon Valley’s supposed “making the world a better place” ethos mostly just applied when their is an upfront benefit to Silicon Valley. Being a coding slave isn’t for everyone.

This may turn out pretty well as it may force higher ed institutions to compete and push tuitions down.

How about something like renewable energy infrastructure training? These systems aren’t going to install and maintain themselves.

Just imagine how something like that could transform coal country.

 

[Zoidberg]

Kind of related, this website has compiled a series of Youtube playlists that mirror the complete curriculum of a 4-year Computer Science degree by semesters:

http://cs1000.vercel.app

This covers related subjects such as math (linear algebra, statistics, etc) so it goes way beyond what would be covered in a coding course.

 

[SuperMatt]

How is this different from the existing IT certification system? Lots of people have certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, etc. And certifications CANNOT replace a good college degree. You learn a lot more than “how to code” if you’re a computer science graduate. And lots of people might just want to work in fields other than IT, believe it or not. This seems like just a headline-grabber for Google.

 

[Alli]

How is this different from the existing IT certification system? Lots of people have certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, etc. And certifications CANNOT replace a good college degree. You learn a lot more than “how to code” if you’re a computer science graduate. And lots of people might just want to work in fields other than IT, believe it or not. This seems like just a headline-grabber for Google.

I was thinking along similar lines. Google has always offered certifications. This is just another one that says you know how to use Google apps. It cannot replace a formal education, although it can certainly enhance it. If an employer wants experience, they will appreciate those certifications, but if they want a degree, you’re stuck.

 

[Chew Toy McCoy]

How is this different from the existing IT certification system? Lots of people have certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, etc. And certifications CANNOT replace a good college degree. You learn a lot more than “how to code” if you’re a computer science graduate. And lots of people might just want to work in fields other than IT, believe it or not. This seems like just a headline-grabber for Google.

I don't believe "the college experience" justifies the current cost, and what you are paying for should near guarantee a better paying job, but that's nowhere near the reality. One of the big problems of trying to force the narrative of college is the only path to a successful future is the jobs aren't there at large scale. Then you're left with the conservative survival of the fittest/pull up your boot straps narrative except with a mountain of debt.

One thing I've never gotten conservatives to answer is when you have half the country living under the poverty line while also having record low unemployment, where exactly are these great paying jobs hiding? You (by an incomplete metric) have 94% of the population employed while also having 50% under the poverty line.

 

[Eric]

How is this different from the existing IT certification system? Lots of people have certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, etc. And certifications CANNOT replace a good college degree. You learn a lot more than “how to code” if you’re a computer science graduate. And lots of people might just want to work in fields other than IT, believe it or not. This seems like just a headline-grabber for Google.

As one who holds several Microsoft certifications I can tell you they are far more valuable than any generalized computer degree because they're are targeted and very specific. Most of these certifications are also not easy to get, failure rates are often over 50%. When I interview and hire I am looking for the right skillset and almost all recruiters are as well, in fact they typically just search for keywords targeting that requirement throughout all the resumes.

Also, I can't tell you how many times I have seen someone come onto the job with a computer degree who is unable to configure a Windows server, SharePoint, Exchange, etc. without this specialized real world training and experience that college degree does very little for you.

I don't want to put down the benefits of a college education but in the world of IT I would never recommend it over getting certified in your field of interest.

 

[DT]

I suspect, part of this - for the near future - is to create a Google credentialing platform as well, that can be used outside of just Google job offerings. There's a whole tech space around credentialing/micro-credentialing, and using blockchain tech to be able to pass around a certification keychain, but that keeps it decentralized (see cryptocurrency), I could totally believe Google wanting another data point for people by being the single source of truth for all their credentials, certs, etc.

I'm engaged in this space a bit, involved with some startups that do skills analysis, all sorts of psychometrics about occupational fitment, and on the border, there's a ton of talk about how to validate and transport that information.

 

[User.45]

And there's always a fitting Futurama skit...

 

[DT]

"Fry, you won't last two weeks!"

"Thanks for believing in me ..."