Netflix has announced a new partnership with Norfolk State University and 2U, Inc. to offer programs that cover in-demand skills. According to NSU, the Netflix Virtual HBCU Boot Camp will allow 130 students and alumni of the historically Black college and university to take part in an intensive 16-week digital course.
“This program is exclusive to NSU for the spring 2021 semester,” said Dr. Patricia Mead, chair of the NSU Department of Engineering in a statement. “It gives students the chance to receive instruction based on a curriculum that has been developed in partnership with the leading streaming service, and students get one-on-one mentoring from Netflix employees. Both graduate and undergraduate students can participate.”
NSU said Dr. Claude Turner, computer science department chair, and computer science alumnus Michael Chase, a Netflix senior software engineer, will serve as mentors to the students. Chase is also a former chair of the Computer Science Department’s External Advisory Board.
Accepted students can receive a scholarship that will cover the cost of attendance for the program, which includes the Netflix Advanced Java Boot Camp, Netflix Applied Data Science Boot Camp, and Netflix UX/UI Design Boot Camp.
"The Netflix Virtual HBCU Boot Camps will provide up to 130 Norfolk State students and recent alumni with industry-relevant skills in data science, advanced Java, and UX/UI design, on top of the comprehensive university education they’ve already received," said an article co-authored by 2U's Chief Strategy & Engagement Officer David Sutphen and Senior Vice President of Career Services Jennifer Henry.
On its website, 2U states that its mission is to bring universities into the digital age.
"Our 2U team worked hand-in-hand with Netflix’s engineering, data science, and design teams along with Norfolk State faculty to develop a custom curriculum intentionally designed to deliver a rigorous and industry-relevant learning experience," they explained. "All students who complete a boot camp will receive course credit from Norfolk. As part of the boot camp experience, participants will also receive one-on-one mentorship from Netflix tech professionals and career and support services from 2U’s accomplished career team to help create new career pathways into the tech sector."