Infosys Foundation USA Partners with Code.org to Bring Computer Science Education to Millions of Students Across the U.S.

Infosys Foundation USA Chairperson Vandana Sikka joins Code.org's board. Teacher training expanded to middle and high schools.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Infosys Foundation USA, a non-profit organization focused on bridging the digital divide in America, has announced a partnership with Code.org to expand access to computer science education for millions of students across the United States. The program includes professional development for teachers, curriculum development and social outreach programs.

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Infosys Foundation USA has also committed its support to Code.org's annual Hour of Code initiative, a global grassroots campaign that has introduced millions of students to computer science in over 180 countries. Code.org will run its third Hour of Code campaign in December 2015, encouraging students of all ages to try a one-hour computer science tutorial. These lessons are designed to demystify code and show that anybody can learn the basics.

With the support of Infosys Foundation USA, Code.org will be able to expand its professional development program, training approximately 350 middle and high school teachers across the United States.

The Code.org partnership is part of the Foundation's larger mission to expand computer science education and training in the United States, particularly for those in underrepresented communities.

Highlights: 

• With this announcement, Infosys Foundation USA becomes a Platinum-level sponsor of Code.org, providing not only financial support but also resources and extensive experience in computer science education.
• The Chairperson of Infosys Foundation USA, Vandana Sikka, has been appointed to the Code.org Board. Sikka's background includes a master's degree in computer science and a successful track record in product design, development and management in several Silicon Valley startups. She joins fellow Code.org board members, including representatives from companies such as Google, Microsoft and Amazon.com.

Quotes:  

Hadi Partovi, CEO, Code.org 

"The United States is forecast to have one million unfilled computer science jobs by 2020. This support from Infosys Foundation USA will play a major role in Code.org's efforts to broaden access to computer science education, empower teachers and help students of all backgrounds to be ready for the jobs of tomorrow."

Vandana Sikka, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation USA 

"Our partnership with Code.org will accelerate our goal to give all children the skills they need to become creators, not just consumers, of technology. Computing skills aren't just for software engineers anymore. They are becoming as foundational as science and language arts. As a parent, I feel strongly that every child should have the opportunity to learn these skills."

About Code.org 

Code.org is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. Its vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer programming. After launching in 2013, Code.org organized the Hour of Code campaign - which has introduced over 100 million students to computer science to date - and partnered with more than 60 public school districts nationwide to expand computer science programs. Code.org is supported by philanthropic donations from corporations, foundations and generous individuals, including Microsoft, Infosys Foundation USA, The Ballmer Family Giving, Omidyar Network and others. Learn more at http://code.org/ and follow on Twitter @codeorg

About Infosys Foundation USA 

Infosys Foundation USA is a non-profit focused on bridging the digital divide in America. It aims to give children, young adults and workers across the United States the skills they need to become creators, not just consumers, of technology. Infosys Foundation USA supports computer science education and training, particularly for those in under-represented communities.  Support includes grants and domain expertise for non-profit organizations involved in delivering services, research and advocacy. Infosys Foundation USA builds on the 20-year community-focused heritage of the Infosys Foundation.

Learn more at http://www.infosys.com/infosys-foundation/infosys-usa-foundation and follow on Twitter @InfyFoundation

SOURCE Infosys

Asia Pacific: Sarah Gideon, Infosys, India, [phone], [email protected]; EMEA: Paul de Lara, Infosys, UK, [phone], [email protected]; Americas: John Gallagher, Brunswick Group for Infosys USA, [phone] / [phone], [email protected]