Around 74 to 86% of adults suffering from Asperger’s are currently unemployed or undervalued in terms of their skills (Barnard et al, 2001). At the same time, the data industry anticipates that 900,000 jobs will be unfilled by 2020. In response, Grenoble Ecole de Management (GEM) has partnered with C3R (Centre Ressource de Réhabilitation pyscho-sociale et de Remédiation cognitive) to create a new data program designed for Asperger* profiles and companies that wish to recruit students from the program. The goal is to facilitate job employment for Asperger profiles by meeting growing demands for employees with data skills. The program is expected to open in January 2019.
Six months of online and in-person training for participants
Open to high school graduates, this program is reserved for people who are over 18 years of age and diagnosed with Asperger’s (or in the process of being diagnosed). Most participants will be referred to the program by a center for autism. Students will alternate between online and in-person classes over the course of six months.
“Online classes will be taught by GEM professors and focus on big data, software development and cybersecurity. The in-person classes will be taught by coaches trained for Asperger’s and focus on finding a job, understanding social aspects of the workplace, and integrating a company over the long-term,” explains Laurence Sirac, program director and head of job placement at GEM for MBAs and Master’s (she is also an Asperger profile).
New data-ready employees
Companies that would like to benefit from this program will be able to recruit an employee who is trained in data skills with expertise, efficiency and rigor. Coaching will also be provided when the new employee joins the company in order to train his or her team members. Individual follow-up will be implemented by Grenoble Ecole de Management to optimize the performance of the new employee.
Asperger Syndrome (also known as Asperger’s) is a form of autism that is associated with advanced cognitive abilities as well as specific interests or repetitive behaviors that create significant difficulties in terms of social interaction.
