As a relatively new technology, RPA does not have a clearly defined educational path teaching necessary skills at the university level, but increasingly, companies are working with educational institutions to make them aware of the value of an automation curriculum.
UiPath, which has established programs with individual schools, recently announced an initiative establishing a network of more than 1,000 colleges and universities, government agencies, workforce development associations and non-profits around the world with the goal of bringing curricula and free software to students.
The Academic Alliance, which currently includes institutions like the University of Florida, Loyola University (Md.) and Bentley University, will also provide other resources including certification for students in RPA to build a workforce capable of operating in automated environments.
“The main reason I am enthusiastic about teaching robotic process automation with UiPath is the potential it has to provide opportunities for students,” said Mary Beth Whitman Goodrich, a professor of instruction at University of Texas at Dallas, in the announcement from UiPath. “One of my former graduate students recently shared that learning UiPath as a student allowed him to be promoted in his organization faster. On one of his projects, he was able to conceptualize, develop, and implement an RPA process that saves his organization 2,000 manual hours each year.”