Replicating the infrastructure of a data center, Vertiv Academy provided hands-on classes to 53 young adults in a structured, safe environment with experienced instructors
São Paulo, Brazil [April 28, 2025] – Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of digital critical infrastructure and continuity solutions, is reinforcing its commitment to developing young talent in Brazil through the implementation of a data center education program with hands-on learning, hosted at the Vertiv Academy learning center. The intensive two-day workshop extended education to four groups of teens, ages 16-18, from SENAI (Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial). SENAI is a technical institute that provides science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce skills that are also applied in the data center industry. The program, attended by young women and men, is a meaningful step for Vertiv, which has been actively promoting STEM education and the inclusion of women in the data center sector.
Located in Barueri, São Paulo, Vertiv Academy Latin America is a training center for data center professionals. Vertiv Academy replicates the infrastructure of a data center, enabling hands-on training in a controlled environment that prioritizes safety practices in both the training process and in practice in the field. Vertiv’s local technical instructors train professionals on the best practices for data center critical infrastructure management and services, with emphasis on Vertiv's thermal and power management solutions. Training offered at the Vertiv Academy is available in Portuguese, Spanish and English, and it is delivered by critical infrastructure experts with more than ten years of experience in the industry.
"Vertiv's initiative to welcome dozens of interested students from SENAI Barueri with their teachers corroborates our mission to be present in all sectors and different areas of technology. The students' vision for the job market brings inspiration and establishes goals for their professional and personal lives. It is a rich pedagogical experience and certainly makes a lot of difference in the teaching and learning processes," says Karina Sanches de Oliveira, technical-pedagogical coordinator, SENAI Barueri.
According to Francisco Sales, service director LATAM, this action with SENAI is the first of a series of trainings expected to be offered by Vertiv to support the Brazilian educational ecosystem. "Vertiv is committed to inspiring new generations in the world of technology and critical infrastructure, providing them with knowledge and experiences that will empower them to become the leaders of tomorrow.”
One of the leaders of Vertiv Academy, Leonardo Barroso, regional technical support manager, is a graduate of SENAI and sees the potential of learning key topics in critical infrastructure to transform lives. "Data Center Week LATAM was a milestone — we connected 53 students with the real-world challenges and opportunities of the critical infrastructure market, to help educate and inspire the next generation to shape the future of digital infrastructure in Latin America", said Barroso.
The first edition of the data center education program brought together 53 participants from SENAI in Brazil. The participants, who are currently studying to become electromechanics and electrical technicians, gained hands-on learning experience, covering six key modules that provided both theoretical insights and practical applications. Topics included an overview of the data center industry, the importance of reliable power, efficient cooling, and visibility; and a look at the different types of applications that data centers support. Additionally, participants gained valuable knowledge about the Internet of Things (IoT), learning how interconnected devices are transforming industries and improving efficiency.
An Opportunity for Young Adults and Women in an Expanding Market
The report Latinometrics STEM Universities Graduates, from 2023, shows that 18% of all Brazilian students at the third level follow STEM disciplines. Brazil is predicted to have 530.000 open job positions through the end of 2025 (data from a Google study). study). In Brazilian organizations, 85% of the current STEM professionals are reported to be men. Data from the CNPQ (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, an agency of the Ministry of Science and Technology) from 2019 show that nationwide, only 35% of scholarship holders for a master's degree in exact sciences are women. In engineering and computer science, this figure drops to 33.6% of scholarship recipients. By supporting early exposure to data center opportunities and emphasizing STEM education for young women and men, the pool of qualified candidates to bridge the job gap will grow, and more women will be inducted into the field. Brazilian organizations, 85% of the current STEM professionals are reported to be men. Data from the CNPQ (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, an agency of the Ministry of Science and Technology) from 2019 show that nationwide, only 35% of scholarship holders for a master's degree in exact sciences are women. In engineering and computer science, this figure drops to 33.6% of scholarship recipients. By supporting early exposure to data center opportunities and emphasizing STEM education for young women and men, the pool of qualified candidates to bridge the job gap will grow, and more women will be inducted into the field.
The picture is also aggravated by the wage gap between men and women in the country. This situation is highlighted by a 2023 study by the Federation of Industries of Santa Catarina (FIESC). This index is based on data from the Annual Social Information Report (RAIS), a socio-economic information report based on data submitted to the federal government by employers throughout Brazil and also in the state of Santa Catarina.
To address this imbalance, Vertiv and the program collaborators aim to train young people and promote women’s increased participation in technology-oriented careers, to help break social barriers, provide support and tools, and contribute to a more inclusive job market. Aligned with Vertiv’s responsible business and innovation initiatives, the program seeks to bridge the gap for access to technical training in Brazil by offering opportunities to young adults with leadership potential in their communities.Vertiv plans to replicate this initiative in other Latin American Vertiv Academies, using this first phase in Barueri, Brazil.
For more information about Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.
About Vertiv
Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics, and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.
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