Rocket Software, a global technology leader in modernization software, announced the launch of its first NextGen Academy in the U.S. Following the program’s early success in Lithuania and the U.K., the company is expanding the education program to its new office in Northwest Arkansas. The six-month paid program is designed to equip participants with the essential skills, hands-on experience, and knowledge needed to thrive in a global technology company.
With 90% of organizations expected to feel the impact of the IT talent shortage by 2026 (IDC), Rocket Software’s NextGen Academy is directly addressing the industry’s challenge by offering participants a structured pathway and the experience needed to excel in enterprise software development. Participants will complete an immersive training program that provides in-depth technical learning through real-world projects alongside the company’s engineers. Upon completion, graduates will have the opportunity for full-time roles at the Northwest Arkansas office.
“Expanding the NextGen Academy to the U.S. is a strategic investment for both Rocket Software’s future and the next generation of software engineers who will drive continuous innovation, business growth, and long-term resilience shaped by our commitment to learning and our culture based on our values of Empathy, Humanity, Trust, and Love,” said Neil Fowler, SVP of Hybrid Cloud Engineering and NextGen Academy Board Chair. “Our commitment to helping close the IT skills gap goes hand-in-hand with supporting participants’ professional growth. We are dedicated to fostering technical excellence as well as building the soft skills and confidence vital for today’s dynamic technology landscape.”
This inaugural U.S. cohort will welcome 30 participants, each gaining exposure to various career pathways such as software developer, software tester, technical support specialist, and information developers. While the U.K. NextGen Academy focused primarily on Common Business-Oriented Language (COBOL) and Enterprise Suite products, the U.S. program will pilot a broader curriculum to build versatile, future-ready talent capable of contributing across multiple teams and technologies. Additionally, Rocket Software is partnering with Apprenticely, a nonprofit dedicated to growing Arkansas’s workforce through registered apprenticeship, to provide participants with industry-recognized certifications that strengthen career pathways.
"Apprenticely is proud to work with Rocket Software, a company with a strong track record of global presence and success," says Bill Yoder, Apprenticely Executive Director. "As an organization that is focused on people and helping them build successful careers, the team at Apprenticely celebrates and supports Rocket Software's core values of Empathy, Humanity, Trust, and Love. We look forward to helping them invest in their people and grow their workforce through Registered Apprenticeship."
"Rocket Software is addressing an IT environment that I lived in for two decades: enterprise, support, mainframe, and modernization," says Lonnie Emard, Apprenticely National Apprenticeship Director. "They'll reap the great benefits of implementing a Registered Apprenticeship Program, especially in an area that maintains a significant impact in a worldwide economy. They're taking a global business and bringing it to the talent-rich area of Northwest Arkansas. We're excited to partner with them."
