EdTech offers free courses for DACA Dreamers

OpenClassrooms has announced the launch of its curriculum in the United States. Learning opportunities for prospective students at every level - from novice to seasoned tech pro - are now available for the following career paths: iOS Developer, Android Developer, Ruby Developer, Front-end Developer and Product Management, enabling students to land careers in some of today's most cutting-edge industries, such app development, software engineering and others.

 "A paradigm shift is underway in the U.S. and globally: until now, the traditional pillars of education were 'reading, writing and arithmetic'; but as we've shifted to a digital economy, business needs have evolved and ushered in a new era for education," said Pierre Dubuc, co-founder and CEO of OpenClassrooms.

"'Reading, writing and digital skills - such as learning to code' - will become the new normal, and, to succeed, students will need to take a three-pronged approach to learning that includes: high-quality course content, customized mentoring programs, and hands-on learning opportunities. OpenClassrooms is the premier platform that provides everyone with the opportunity to gain coveted technical skills that are invaluable in today's job market in a flexible, credible online learning environment - with guaranteed success."

Currently, 100 percent of their graduates are employed globally, and all of them were able to obtain positions relevant to their completed course paths within six months of graduation. The company aligns its course options with market needs and delivers high-quality content in order to offer students a Job Guarantee, which provides students with tuition reimbursement if they do not find a job within six months of graduating from a career path.

A key component of OpenClassrooms' success is incorporating traditional human elements into its online learning approach; all students receive a personal mentor to guide them through their learning path via weekly video chats and have access to an online community of peers.

Their partnership with IT service firm Capgemini to advance the concept of an online apprenticeship further validates the company's dedication to incorporating a human element into online learning. The partnership program allows students to acquire on-the-job professional training with an option to hire. To support its continued global growth, OpenClassrooms is in the process of securing additional professional and university partnerships in the U.S. and around the globe.

"When I started developing software more than 10 years ago, it was difficult to find relevant, cutting-edge education resources to help me stay current in a highly competitive profession," said Mike Preble, an OpenClassrooms mentor based in Old Town, Maine. "I have always had a passion for learning, which directed me to education; I am proud to partner with OpenClassrooms to help individuals from around the world find success in emerging, competitive technology fields."

As part of OpenClassrooms' debut in the U.S., the company is kicking off its 'Dream On' initiative, which is an opportunity for "Dreamers" who are recognized by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy (DACA). 'Dream On' allows qualified DACA "Dreamers" to pursue lifelong education from OpenClassrooms with a Premium Solo membership, which provides unlimited access to all OpenClassrooms' courses, free of cost. As of Sept. 4, more than 690,000 "Dreamers" were enrolled in DACA.

"Lifelong learning knows no borders, no barriers and should require little beyond a strong sense of self-discipline, hard work and dedication in order to succeed," Dubuc continued. "It's time that high-quality, flexible, skills-based education become accessible to everyone, and our 'Dream On' program - which is a free opportunity for "Dreamers" to pursue lifelong education - is an excellent example of how we plan to make education accessible to everyone, in every community."