Vancouver’s Athena Pathways has launched a new program called Athena Digital Leaders.
The new initiative will provide students and experienced mid-career managers with training and sponsored work placements in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Science (AI/ML/DS).
Athena Pathways’ mission is to deepen Canada’s talent pool and make it more inclusive, while delivering real value in the form of trained interns, workers and managers to businesses that are seeking greater diversity in their workforce. Through its work with employers and women, Athena Pathways has come across significant gaps in BC’s talent pool.
One million dollars will be invested in the program, of which $500,000 will come from industry and $500,000 will be invested through Canada’s Digital Supercluster.
The new program will provide wage subsidies to cover 43% of participant salaries up to $17,000.
In addition, Athena Pathways has partnered with KPMG to provide free workshops and corporate training to companies that are interested in pursuing AI/ML/DS but don’t yet have the foundational building blocks in place.
The result of more companies pursuing digital transformation through the training will be more positions for Athena participants, which in turn will seed AI/ML/DS teams led by women and new immigrant managers in organizations throughout the province.
The Athena Digital Leaders program is now placing AI/ML/DS Masters and PhD students (as well as self-taught equivalents) into project and long-term roles with salaries subsidized 43% for up to 18 weeks.
The program is also recruiting mid-career managers in the fields of product management, software management and project management to enrol in accelerated machine learning training courses with Northeastern University, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia that are offered to the successful participants under a full scholarship.
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