A local coding school is making education more accessible for busy women in the workforce. In an effort to increase the number of women in tech, Suncoast Developers Guild (SDG) is making it easier for women to learn technology to learn new skills while juggling a busy schedule. The school will now offer part-time classes to teach women everything from web development to digital marketing.
Only twenty-six percent of professional computing occupations are held by women. Among various factors for the low number are insufficient hiring practices, lack of access to technology, and lack of encouragement for girls to pursue tech at a young age. SDG works to address each of those areas, and one of their strategies is to make classes accessible to women who have little time to invest in learning something new.
“We have women inquire about our classes all the time, but their schedules just don’t allow them to pursue it,” says Suncoast president Toni Warren. “We’ve been listening—these part-time courses are in direct response to the need for classes that work with women’s demanding schedules.”
The school says classes are not only for women, but also for anyone who is either looking to expand their skillset or current programmers who are looking to upskill in specific areas. Courses include Web Development Test Drive, User Experience (UX) for Non-Designers, Digital Marketing, and Building Interactive Websites.
The school has emerged as the leading center for tech education after the closing of The Iron Yard in 2017. As Florida’s only non-profit immersive code school, SDG is providing the technical and soft skills often necessary to pursue rewarding careers as programmers. It also aims to promote community among local technology organizations.
Classes begin later this month and last for six weeks. Some courses are Saturday-only attendance; others will be conducted on two recurring weekday evenings. For more information about courses and registration, visit suncoast.io