Facebook’s ‘TechPrep’ seeks to bring diversity in global tech scene

By 2020 there will be 1 million programming jobs left unfulfilled, to help bridge this gap Facebook has launched a new website to help people start programming careers.

Dubbed as TechPrep — the site will show parents and students what programming is, why it’s important, and what sort of jobs are available for those who can code.

It also guides people to resources to get started everything from classes to college prep. And it features real stories from people from under-represented groups who’ve used the resources to start careers in tech.

“Improving diversity in the tech industry is an important challenge, and something we’re deeply committed to at Facebook. Everyone should be able to take advantage of the opportunities created by the internet. Giving everyone the opportunity to learn to code will create even more valuable tools to serve society,” said Mark Zuckerberg, CEO Facebook.

He added that through research with McKinsey, Facebook found that there are very few resources in particular for Black or Hispanic learners, and they wanted to change this.

Zuckerberg also said that Facebook has also put together resources for parents and guardians so they can provide young people with advice and support.

“We hope this is a valuable resource for people in our community, and that it helps makes a small contribution towards making our industry more diverse,” he said.

TechPrep connects people to resources including games, books, in-person opportunities and community events to help learners as well as parents and guardians guide their kids in to computer science and programming. It also includes profiles of real people pursuing these careers.

“Today, we’re excited to introduce TechPrep. We created TechPrep in response to our understanding, supported by research from McKinsey, of the participation of underrepresented minorities in programming careers, “said Maxine Williams, Global Director of Diversity

She also added that Facebook, was working on a number of initiatives to widen the pipeline and build an inclusive culture and that’s when they realized that one challenge is a lack of exposure to computer science and careers in technology, as well as a lack of resources for parents, guardians, and others who want to learn more and TechPrep will help address this.

According to Statistics compiled by Facebook on underrepresented minorities in programming careers: 50 percent of Blacks and 42 percent of Hispanics say they would be good at working with computers, compared to 35 percent of Whites and 35 percent of Asians

Another 77 percent of parents say they do not know how to help their child pursue computer science. This increases to approximately 83 percent for lower-income and non-college graduate parents or guardians. Yet being encouraged to pursue computer science by a parent or guardian is a primary motivator for women, Blacks, and Hispanics and Lower awareness of computer science among Blacks and Hispanics is driven by reduced access to CS and CS programs, and is a major driver of Black and Hispanic drop-off when pursuing programming as a career path.

TechPrep will be available in English and Spanish and will help children and guardians better understand the tech industry and career opportunities, Facebook breaks down types of programming, programming benefits, and the future of programming jobs.