U.S. Colleges Awarded Grants to Enhance Digital Skills

Coronado, California – Six U.S. colleges have been awarded $25,000 each as part of the Digital Workforce Innovation Program, funded by the Infosys Foundation USA, during the annual NACCE conference. This initiative, totaling a grant of $250,000, is aimed at equipping students and adult learners with essential digital skills necessary for success in a tech-driven economy.

The recipients of the funding include:

• Coppin State University (MD)
• Foothill College (CA)
• Gateway Community College (AZ)
• Houston City College (TX)
• Ivy Tech Community College (IN)
• North Iowa Area Community College (IA)

This innovative program focuses on fostering a maker mindset among participants through real-world learning opportunities. Over the course of 18 months, the colleges will partake in a cohort that provides various support elements, including:

• Access to funding and technical assistance
• One-on-one coaching and mentorship
• Monthly focus group meetings
• Student-driven data analysis and peer learning on the Infosys Springboard digital learning platform

These resources are designed to help the institutions align their workforce initiatives with local and regional labor market demands, significantly enhancing their educational offerings.

Maker USA serves as a strategic partner in this initiative, delivering technical assistance and consulting services, as well as connecting participating colleges to a national network of over 40 organizations that are focused on maker education.

The selection criteria for the colleges included their readiness to enhance programs, capacity to implement changes, and sustainability plans to ensure continued support beyond the initial funding period. This aligns with NACCE’s mission, which aims to address community and workforce needs through collaborative efforts.

Notably, the Infosys Foundation USA is dedicated to preparing talent for a technology-driven workforce by increasing equitable access to 21st-century digital skills. To further support the grantees, they will have access to SkillPointe, NACCE’s career exploration technology, which aids individuals in discovering relevant training and certification programs. Additionally, the program includes access to a comprehensive repository containing over 11,000 courses covering key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, data analytics, and cybersecurity.

The mission of the Infosys Foundation USA also emphasizes expanding access to maker education and upskilling opportunities, while promoting technology-enabled career paths. Simultaneously, NACCE’s focus is on empowering community college leaders, thereby enhancing their contributions to job creation and entrepreneurship within local ecosystems.

Maker USA is further committed to supporting marginalized communities through maker education, which fosters innovation and broadens opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.

The cohort model implemented in this program effectively integrates resources from both Maker USA and Infosys Foundation USA, working collaboratively to enhance educational outcomes and success for participants in the digital workforce.