Austin Community College, IBM Launch IT Apprenticeship Program

AUSTIN, TX — Austin Community College and its longtime IT partner, IBM, launched an apprenticeship program in Central Texas for students seeking careers in information technology.

The program, funded by a $1.5 million U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) grant, aims to train 350 apprentices at IBM over the next four years, officials said.

“Everyone is scrambling to find skilled employees in the IT industry, and this is one of the best possible ways to build a skilled workforce,” Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC president/CEO, said in a prepared statement. “It is a win, win, win for the student, the college, and for business to have access to a pool that is being trained and skilled.”

In the past five years, the Central Texas tech industry has grown almost 25 percent and is expected to continue to grow, officials noted.

“When you look at what is becoming of the industry, there are a lot of jobs that are becoming available for cybersecurity, blockchain, and (artificial intelligence) that we cannot fill,” Dexter Henderson, IBM senior location executive and vice president, said in a prepared statement. “By going and getting folks with two-year degrees and training them to exactly what you need, they can help fill that gap.”

ACC is one of four community colleges awarded funds through the DOL grant, officials said. Other colleges include San Jacinto College, Alamo Community College, and the Dallas Community College District.

IBM also is contributing $4.5 million statewide in matching funds, officials said. For more information about ACC’s IT programs, visit austincc.edu/csit.

About ACC

Austin Community College is a nationally recognized two-year college serving Central Texas. ACC is focused on student success and providing affordable, flexible pathways to help students reach their education goals, learn new job skills, or advance their career. The college currently enrolls more than 70,000 students annually.