Last Thursday, Steve Wozniak, famed co-founder of Apple, launched Woz U, a technology education program created to bridge the staggering gap between computer science positions and the graduates needed to fill them.

At launch, the online curriculum will be available for those interested in full stack software development as well as computer support.  Courses in data science, mobile applications development, and cyber security will also be available in the coming months.

Woz U will not only offer individuals the curriculum they need to jump start their careers in the tech industry but also solutions for K-12 career pathways, those interested in entrepreneurial studies, and even coaching tech businesses on how to advance their employees.

In addition, Mr. Wozniak said that, while the curriculum will be available online only this year, the plan is to bring physical campuses to at least 30 US cities.

Mr. Wozniak made a statement at launch in which he had this to say:

“Our goal is to educate and train people in employable digital skills without putting them into years of debt.  People often are afraid to choose a technology-based career because they think they can’t do it.  I know they can, and I want to show them how.  My entire life I have worked to build, develop, and create a better world through technology, and I have always respected education.  Now is the time for Woz U, and we are only getting started.”

According to Core.org, there are over 490,000 open computer-science-related jobs, yet there were only about 43,000 computer science graduates last year.  Not only that, many states, including Woz U’s home state of Arizona, neither require public high schools to offer computer science courses nor have standards for those schools that are offering computer science as part of the curriculum.

Registration is currently open, but be prepared to wait as the demand is very high.