Youth can use this updated resource for educational, entrepreneurial opportunities
At its We Day youth empowerment event in March, Microsoft announced free resources for youth of all ages on the updated YouthSpark Hub [1]. These resources will help connect youth with better opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
Young people today are faced with a much greater challenge in achieving their dreams than they were 10 or even 5 years ago. Their path to success – whether obtaining a good job or starting their own business – is much more complicated today given the state of the economy, and the number of people entering, or trying to enter the workforce. The requirements have changed. It’s no longer just about having a degree from a 4-year university or key textbook learning skills.
For example, when it comes to careers in STEM related fields, by 2018, there will be 1.5 million computer science related jobs available in America, and only 29 percent of those jobs can be met by U.S. graduates. Computer programming jobs are growing at 2x the national average, yet less than 2.4 percent of college students graduate with a degree in computer science.
Through the YouthSpark initiative Microsoft is committed to helping young people realize their potential and provide them easy access to the resources and connections they need to not only navigate the numerous and evolving paths to success, but also help inspire and motivate them to achieve their dreams.
The new YouthSpark Hub offers new features and a more personalized experience so youth can plan for their futures:
- “Participate in a YouthSpark Program” feature to browse more than 30 free programs that provide educational, employment, and entrepreneurial resources and support.
- Program discovery based on age, career ambitions, goals, and what type of activities youth want to get involved in.
- Information on upcoming YouthSpark events, an exploration of possible careers, and a “skills” section leading to a variety of resources that teach how to code a game, find a mentor, create a PowerPoint presentation, and more.