Unemployment among youth globally is more than twice that of the adult population. The gap between those who are looking for work and the knowledge and skills needed to compete for successful employment is vast. In Russia, as in many countries, the need for IT industry professionals now and in the future is outstripping the available workforce. To meet their country goals, Russia needs to grow its IT ready workforce. Tvoy Kurs: IT for Youth, a project implemented by Microsoft in collaboration with PH International, is designed to help reduce this employment gap among youth in Russia and within the IT industry in their country.
Tvoy Kurs: IT for Youth engages senior class students in creative IT learning opportunities and the potential of IT as a future career by learning more about the industry and the various professions connected to information technologies. The project also provides opportunities to gain practical skills and knowledge in the field as a gateway to future employment. IT for Youth has a special emphasis on reaching disadvantaged youth and those in difficult life situations including pupils aged 15 to 24 from out of home settings and those with disabilities.
More specifically the goals of the "Tvoy Kurs: IT for Youth" project are: assistance to students of the senior classes in professional self-determination; orientation of young citizens on the professions that are in demand in the social and economic spheres; motivation to participate in training in modern information technologies and improvement of technical skills as a basis of career opportunities, successful continuation of training in the highest and average special educational institutions, and acquisition by students of the competencies necessary for successful employment. Students will interact with IT professionals, acquire competence in IT skills like basics of computer literacy, safety on the internet and skills in developing code. They will participate in project competitions and join with other students in socially significant activities.
