The world’s leading streaming entertainment service and a global leader in education technology are expanding their partnership and bringing Marymount University into the fold as they work to increase diversity in tech fields.
Starting this August, Netflix and 2U, Inc., will offer three for-credit, fully online tech boot camps in Data Science, Java Engineering and UX/UI to Marymount undergraduates, all at no cost to accepted students. The two tech leaders began their partnership last year through virtual boot camps with Norfolk State University, and are now welcoming Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI’s) like Marymount and other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) as partners.
“We are delighted to partner with both Netflix and 2U on this far-reaching partnership that will allow Marymount University to provide essential credentials to our students that give them a competitive advantage in the global marketplace,” said Dr. Irma Becerra, President of Marymount University. “It’s in line with what we’ve always done – provide a practical education that allows Saints to be prepared for purposeful careers. We are excited to grow this transformational partnership in the future and make an impactful difference in the lives of our students.”
“Marymount’s College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology (BILT) is producing tech-ready graduates with interdisciplinary skills who are exceptional,” added Jonathan Aberman, Dean of Marymount University’s College of BILT. “As corporate partners look for access to students with diverse backgrounds who are hungry for opportunities, they will follow Netflix and 2U’s lead and partner with Marymount.”
Built by Netflix engineers, data scientists and UX/UI designers, as well as 2U’s online learning development experts, the boot camp curriculum is designed to further develop students’ industry-relevant technology skills and teach them how to apply what they’ve learned in their coursework to real world business solutions.
Additionally, students will partner with seasoned employees on Netflix’s engineering, data and UX/UI teams, gaining industry insights and key learnings through regular 1:1 mentorship sessions, as well as dedicated support services and career coaching from 2U’s expert team of advisors.
“In designing the curriculum for our inaugural boot camp, we wanted to focus on providing real world themes that we’ve seen in our experiences into the curriculum to help reinforce in-class learnings. Our goal was simply to answer, ‘how can we help these students be successful in their careers?'” said Carlos Solares, senior software engineer at Netflix. “As a Latino, I’m super excited that we’re expanding Netflix’s boot camps to HSI’s, as I think this helps provide greater access and opportunity into this industry.”
While progress has been made to improve racial, ethnic and gender diversity in tech, the number of Black, LatinX and women engineers, data scientists and digital designers remains far too low. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, only 8.7 percent of the more than 88,633 bachelor’s degrees awarded in the computer and information sciences field in 2019 went to students who identified as Black, and only 10.6 percent went to students who identified as Hispanic.
Meanwhile, women make up 47 percent of all employed adults in the U.S., but only 26 percent of computing-related jobs are held by women. And of that 26 percent, just three percent of computing-related jobs are held by African-American women, and two percent held by Hispanic women.
“Developing stronger connections between higher education and the workforce is one proven way to help close persistent gaps in diversity, access and opportunity,” said David Sutphen, Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer for 2U. “The expansion of our partnership with Netflix and the addition of our new university partners, like Marymount, gives us the ability to reach even more students and expand career pathways into tech for historically underrepresented communities.”
Marymount classes in the Netflix Pathways Boot Camp for the Fall 2021 cohort will begin on August 24. The virtual courses will be led by University faculty on a 16-week, part-time basis. For up-to-date information on the program, click here.