Apple recently disclosed its plan to expand its Everyone Can Code initiative to more than 20 universities across the globe, including RMIT in Australia, Mercantec in Denmark, Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen in the Netherlands, Unitec Institute of Technology in New Zealand, and Plymouth University in the UK.
Apple launched the Everyone Can Code initiative in the U.S. less than a year ago. The overarching goal of the program is to deliver coding education to as many people as possible.
The underlying philosophy behind the initiative is the belief that coding, in this age of technology, is as important as reading, writing or arithmetic. Apple treats code as a language of technology and coding as an essential skill that could teach problem solving, working together creatively, and building apps that could bring ideas to life. Believing that everyone should have the opportunity to do something to change the world, Apple has designed a program that “lets anyone learn, write, and teach code.”
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“Our program has been incredibly popular among US schools and colleges, and today marks an important step forward as we expand internationally,” Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said in a statement. “We are proud to work with RMIT and many other schools around the world who share our vision of empowering students with tools that can help them change the world.”
RMIT, Australia’s largest higher education institution, marks one of the most prominent international collaborations Apple has made regarding the new coding initiative.
Universities included in the collaboration will offer Apple’s App Development with Swift Curriculum program, a year-long course teaching students of all backgrounds how to code and develop apps.
In addition to the App Development with Swift Curriculum program, RMIT will offer a vocational education course, 100 scholarship opportunities for school teachers who want to learn coding through an online program, and a free summer school course that will enable secondary students to learn the basics of coding.
“Students will learn the skills required to create a fully functioning app from scratch, while receiving mentoring and connections to industry to get job-ready as an entry level iOS app developer,” said Helen Souness, RMIT Online CEO.
Demand for tech workers is expanding across world. In Australia alone, it is estimated that there will be a need for an extra 81,000 digitally-skilled workers in Australia by 2022.
This new collaboration with Apple will only expand RMIT’s already significant role in generating more tech-savvy students for the Australian job force.
“App Development with Swift will play a crucial role in helping RMIT’s students use their creativity and entrepreneurship to prepare for success in the 21st century workforce,” RMIT University vice chancellor and president Martin Bean said in a statement. “These are the sort of skills Australians need for the jobs of the future, and we’re thrilled to work with Apple to deliver this important curriculum.”
Apple first approached RMIT to discuss how the Swift curriculum could help to enhance and develop learning experiences for the university’s broad student base, Souness said.
RMIT and Apple share values of entrepreneurship and advanced technology skills, Souness explained.
“We are delighted to work with Apple as the first university in Australia to deliver tailored, industry-focused courses using the Swift curriculum,” she said.
RMIT kicked off the online portion of the program two days ago. The vocational course will start in February 2018.
