Digital Equity
Goodwill® Launches Goodwill Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization
Digital Equity
Goodwill® Launches Goodwill Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization
Oct 28, 2024
Rockville, MD
Goodwill Industries International (GII) has launched the Goodwill Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization, a comprehensive online training program designed to equip career counselors, coaches, library and community center staff, and other community supporters with essential skills to help others succeed in a rapidly growing, advanced digital workplace.
The Goodwill Digital Navigator Certificate Specialization, co-developed with World Education and in partnership with Comcast, enables participants to become digital navigators, providing people with resources and guidance they need to secure competitive jobs and achieve economic self-sufficiency.
Closing the digital divide is essential for fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. Today, nearly one in three U.S. workers ages 16 to 64 have few or no digital skills; at least 38% of those workers are employed in jobs requiring moderate or advanced computer use. In fact, the National Skills Coalition found that 92% of current job listings require digital skills yet nearly one in three workers lack these vital skills. The digital divide disproportionately affects Black and Latino workers. The National Skills Coalition found that approximately 50% of Black workers and 57% of Hispanic workers lack robust digital skills today.
This training was first introduced to Goodwill employees internally across the U.S. last month. Now, Goodwill is making the course available to anyone who wants to support their communities as digital navigators. As Goodwill’s latest installment of career navigator training resources, this program is the first of its kind to introduce individuals to digital navigation and workforce development topics emphasizing the importance of helping others gain essential digital skills today.
“We must employ innovative strategies and solutions to give everyone access to the technology and skills necessary to thrive in today’s digital world,” said Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “As part of a new era of workers, digital navigators are key to helping job seekers adapt to the momentous changes AI and automation are bringing.”
We’re thrilled to join forces with Goodwill on this transformative program that will equip participants with career-boosting knowledge and enable them to transfer essential digital skills to their clients.
Individuals who complete the training will earn a digital navigator certificate via Coursera, confirming their new skills and ability to provide digital skills guidance to individuals in their communities. The training program has also been approved by the International Coach Federation (ICF) for 15 hours of continuing coach education credits for ICF certified coaches.
The training includes three courses that help learners understand the digital divide, recommend digital skills training, achieve relevant navigation skills, and identify community assets.
The course is $49 to complete and is self-paced, and the courses can be taken on a cell phone, tablet, or iPad using the Coursera app, or through the Coursera.org web site using a laptop, PC, or Mac desktop computer. To learn more about this course or to participate, contact MPSS@goodwill.org.
