Apple is expanding its workforce. It will do so by doubling the number of young people with digital skills hired after graduating from the European Programming Academy. The center of studies, which opened last year, is located in Naples, a city in southern Italy. There, students spend a year learning to program, to develop technological applications, and to promote start-ups.
The allocation of seating is granted through a contest in which people of any nationality can participate. There is no tuition fee and the courses are taught in English. In June, a new round of exams will be held in Munich, Paris, London, Madrid, Rome and Naples.
400 students will be recruited in the process, who will be between 18 and 30 years old and will participate in courses organized by the University Federico II and Naples University, both located in the city of Naples.
Let's do it
The decision of a company like Apple to be directly involved in education has to do with philanthropy and self-interest. In less than a decade, the development of computer applications has become an important source of profit and work. According to Apple, its digital store offers two million applications. And in Europe alone, this generates more than one million jobs.
But for some time there has been a gap between the demand for professionals with the digital expertise required to develop applications and the preparation of those who apply for those jobs.
That means that workers without the required training do not get a job and that employers fail to capture the skilled workforce they need. So, Apple is taking steps to develop its own talent.
Hazards
The cyber attack that occurred in mid-May and affected more than a hundred countries -- a virus called ransomware that hijacks information stored on a computer and demands the payment of a ransom -- highlighted the lack of cyber security experts.
Numerous warnings have been made about this situation. In fact, IBM Security Director Marc Van Zadelhoff suggested the introduction of a change in the recruitment of specialists in digital programming. IBM has an international network of university agreements to carry out projects related to cyber security.
Risks
Projects such as Apple's Academy are geared toward choosing the best, but the annual report produced by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) points out that it is dangerous to ignore the reality of those who do not belong in that group. Andreas Schleicher, the education director of OECD, says that there is a social and economic need to train the population.
