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Cañada College has received a $1 million grant to create and manage California’s first XR game developer pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship program.
In a press release, the college said the programs were designed to create access for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and underrepresented student groups to mid-and high-paying tech roles as 3D and 2D game developers.
The two $500,000 grants came from the California Apprenticeship Initiative Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship Grant Programs, which were created to help meet the state’s need for an educated and skilled workforce, as well as to promote economic recovery and equity in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the release.
The programs aim to support the creation of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in non-traditional, emerging and innovative sectors and increase the accessibility to sustainable, high-wage jobs for individuals from historically marginalized and underserved backgrounds.
The college said the funding provides an opportunity to create programs such as the not-for-credit Unity Developer program, in partnership with Foothill College.
Designed for Unity beginners, the course starts with the basics all the way through knowing the basics of creating AR and VR games, it said.
The course is virtual, allowing students throughout the state to enroll, although priority registration will be given to students in the Bay Area region.
Registration is open for the pre-apprenticeship program, which costs $99 and begins on June 13.
After completing the apprenticeship program, students would be eligible for employment opportunities as technical artists, game developers and VR/AR programmers for companies that utilize the Unity Engine.
“With this, students will have access to an emerging tech field that many four-year programs do not train graduates for,” said the press release.
The roles do not require a four-year degree.
“Through this partnership, our goal is to create an epicenter for training a new generation of innovative minds that will power the Silicon Valley well into the future,” said Cañada College's interim president, Kim Lopez.
The college added that its XR programs will work with all Bay Area community college consortium game design programs to develop a talent pipeline of students who will be eligible for the pre-apprenticeship program, apprenticeship program, and full-time employment upon program completion.
It said apprentices start earning $23/hour the first six months, increase to $25/hour in the second six months, and $28/hour in the last six months.
Journeymen-level developers will earn a minimum of $75,000 annually and can potentially earn more than $100,000 depending upon skill level.
Students who successfully complete the pre-apprenticeship course are eligible to apply for an 18-month registered apprenticeship in XR beginning in September 2022.
The registered apprenticeship offers apprentices the opportunity to “earn and learn,” working as full-time employees with participating employers and receiving pay increases every six months.
