Code Next: For the Tech Leaders of Tomorrow

With artificial intelligence and machine learning evolving quickly, career opportunities in the field of computer science (CS) seem endless. In fact, it’s believed that in the future, 65% of today’s young people will work in jobs that don’t currently exist. And while it's an exciting prospect for the digital native generation, research shows that many of today’s students aren’t getting the CS education they need to succeed, and teachers don’t have sufficient resources to provide it.

We’re committed to closing the learning gap in CS education by helping students access the tools they need to succeed in future tech roles. Our mission is to educate and engage students, particularly those with barriers to access in CS, as a catalyst to empower the future of learning and work.

Since 2018, we’ve been working with school boards, educators and students from across Canada to deliver CS lessons through CS First, a free introductory computer science curriculum. In just under five years, we’ve reached hundreds of thousands of Canadian students, delivering lessons to help them build computer science skills, showcase practical examples of what they can create and share stories from Google software developers who used CS education to unlock a world of opportunities in their field.

For the 2023 school year, we are thrilled to expand our program offering by launching the Code Next Connect program in Canada. Code Next is a free, immersive computer science education program for Black, Indigenous, Latinx and women-identifying high school students that provides the skills and tech social capital needed to pursue high-achieving careers in tech. The virtual program helps students build critical skills in computational thinking, engineering and leadership. The curriculum is delivered by Google engineers who provide mentorship opportunities and teach a range of topics from game design to hardware development.

Applications for Code Next Connect are open now until August 5. High school students 13 years of age or older, anywhere in the United States and Canada are welcome to apply, and the program is best suited for students in grades 9 and 10. Code Next Connect starts October 3rd and runs until June 2024. If you, or someone you know is interested in this program, apply here today.

We can’t wait to read your applications!