Anna Liang was 12 when she began exploring computer programming. “I was pretty much coding without realizing it,” says Liang, who taught herself the basics of HTML and CSS programming languages while designing her own virtual world inside the online game—an heirloom of the early internet days. “I’d create designs on Photoshop and then bring the graphics and layouts to life through code.”
In the early days, the question was raised as to whether bootcamps fell under the purview of post-secondary regulators like the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in Ontario, where the Private Career Colleges Act governs private vocational training. “Before a private institution can offer vocational training to a paying student, it must register as a private career college under the act,” says MCU’s Tanya Blazina.
Bootcamp courses include live lectures, code-alongs and real-world projects such as app building or web interface design. Completed work can be converted into tangible material for students’ portfolios when they apply for jobs.
Some major employers are creating distinct pathways for candidates with bootcamp credentials. IBM has championed what it calls the “new collar” career movement. “These are employees from diverse backgrounds who didn’t necessarily get to the ‘important and well-paying’ jobs with the usual credentials and pathways,” says Jennifer Roynon, IBM Canada’s corporate social responsibility lead.
Some employers also have reservations. “I need people with a master’s or Ph.D. to work in AI,” says Marie-Eve Drouin, talent acquisition manager at Coveo, a Quebec-based software company. “I’ve never encountered someone with a bootcamp certification that could create or work on these algorithms.”