Dive Brief:
- The White House hosted a summit Thursday, inviting representatives of coding bootcamp programs and other short-term training outfits for adult learners.
- The summit was expected to include a conversation about partnerships between these alternative providers and accredited colleges.
- These partnerships are already being considered as part of an experimental sites project that may also include the creation of a new accountability monitor, either through a new accrediting body or an expanded role of an existing one.
Dive Insight:
Coding bootcamps in the United States and Canada are set to graduate 16,000 students in 2015. The numbers are based on a Course Report survey of 63 out of 67 known coding schools. These nontraditional training options provide adult students with skills to make a career change into an industry with high demand. Because the programs are so short, graduates do not leave with a substantial portfolio to show future employers as proof of their skills. Free Code Camp is one that provides the training as well as work experience, offering students a chance to code for nonprofits as a resume builder.