To help developers build faster, learn faster and grow their career faster with Google Cloud, we are excited to announce three developer initiatives today: a new Google Cloud Skills Boost annual subscription with expanded developer benefits; no-cost #GoogleClout challenges; and the Google Cloud Fly Cup Challenge happening during Google Cloud Next, in partnership with the Drone Racing League (DRL).

Training made easy, wherever you are

A recent survey noted that the number of individuals learning to code online increased from 60% in 2020 to 70% in 2021. Last year, we were the first cloud provider to launch a learning subscription to help address the developer skills shortage. We committed to equipping 40 million people with cloud skills with Google Cloud Skills Boost, which provides learners with online courses, skills development, and certifications. Google Cloud Skills Boost is available for learners globally, and offers training resources in languages including Arabic, Bahasa, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian. With Google Cloud Skills Boost, our goal is to make it easier to get started and grow their cloud skills.

Introducing the new Google Cloud Skills Boost annual subscription

To build on this work, today, we’re enhancing the Google Cloud Skills Boost annual subscription by introducing Innovators Plus – a new suite of developer benefits, available under the existing $299/year subscription^*.Built for developers who are looking to accelerate their professional skills and business growth, this package provides extensive training and certification benefits including live learning events, Google Cloud credits, and certification exam vouchers. Other leading cloud providers limit offers to learning content and labs, or have no developer-targeted offering at all. Through this new Google Cloud Skills Boost annual subscription, developers get the added access, rewards and recognition they’ve been asking for as they level-up their cloud skills.The expanded Google Cloud Skills Boost annual subscription with Innovators Plus offers a comprehensive range of benefits, including:

Access to 700+ hands-on labs, skill badges, and courses
$500 Google Cloud credits
A Google Cloud certification exam voucher
Bonus $500 Google Cloud credits after the first certification earned each year
Live learning events led by Google Cloud experts
Quarterly technical briefings hosted by Google Cloud executives

New Google Cloud learning challenges to build skills

In addition to the Google Cloud Skills Boost annual subscription, we’ve introduced other new learning challenges to make learning about Google Cloud technologies fun and rewarding.

Take your cloud skills to new heights with the Google Cloud Fly Cup Challenge

We recently announced the Google Cloud Fly Cup Challenge, created in partnership with The Drone Racing League (DRL) to celebrate the new era of tech-driven sports. Using DRL race data and Google Cloud analytics tools like BigQuery and Cloud SQL, developers of any skill level will be able to predict race outcomes and provide tips to DRL pilots to help enhance their season performance. Participants will compete for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the season finale of the DRL World Championship Race and be crowned the champion on stage. Register here to join the race to become the DRL champion today.Flex your #GoogleClout and win the hottest book in cloudJust in time for Next, developers can demonstrate their cloud knowledge against participants worldwide in new #GoogleClout challenges — no-cost, 20-minute micro-competitions.

Here’s how it works:

Work on the six new challenges in the #GoogleClout game by October 13
(Optional) Share your scores on social media using the #GoogleClout hashtag
If you complete all six challenges, you’ll receive a special badge on your Developer Profile, plus an electronic copy of Priyanka Vergadia’s bestselling book, “Visualizing Google Cloud”.

Grow your career faster with Google Cloud

The demand for qualified experts is huge. But what exactly does that mean for you? In Skillsoft’s 2022 list of the top 15 highest paying IT certifications, Google Cloud certifications rank among the top for the 4th year in a row. By building your technical expertise on Google Cloud, you can grow your skills and your career faster.

Ready to get started?

Visit Google Cloud Skills Boost to start your annual subscription and unlock Innovators Plus benefits.

^{* Subject to eligibility limitations. Innovators Plus requires you to use a Google Account and a Developer Profile. For customers in the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland), Innovators Plus is restricted to business or professional use.}

By: Linda Moss (Director, Google Cloud Learning Services) and Jeana Jorgensen (Senior Director, Google Cloud Product Marketing)
Source: Google Cloud Blog