South African edtech startup WeThinkCode has opened a campus in Durban and is encouraging interested locals to apply for its maiden cohort software programme that starts in July 2021. Selection bootcamps to recruit students for its first cohort began last week and are being hosted at Convention House in Durban. WeThinkCode is offering a two-year tuition-free software programming course to 100 selected candidates. According to reports, the edtech startup plans to increase its total student intake to 450 in 2021.
Nyari Samushonga, CEO of WeThinkCode explains that the edtech startup plans to empower and upskill locals.
“We know that South Africa has a vast pool of untapped talent with the aptitude to be trained in technology. At the same time, our youth unemployment is among the highest in the world. Our plans are based on the desire to give more South Africans the opportunity to join the digital world and help build the country’s technology skills capability. The Durban metropole has seen significant growth in business activity over the past few years, hence our decision to open a campus there. This is an exciting development for us.”
How to apply
Interested applicants must apply online.
Samushonga explains that the course targets talented individuals that are often ‘unseen’.
“Finding candidates with the right aptitude and attitude is crucial and therefore we are using a newly-developed approach to identify youth with the required cognitive skills. These are individuals that would otherwise be overlooked by traditional selection methods. In addition, we draw on the expertise of leading technologists for the design of our course material. These experts are continually updating the curriculum content to keep it relevant as the technology landscape changes,” Samushonga explains.
WeThinkCode
Founded and launching in 2015 by Camille Agon and Arlene Mulder, WeThinkCode is a software programming training academy that is committed to providing South Africans with education in the tech space. The edtech startup has campuses in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and most recently in Durban. With a blended learning approach, WeThinkCode offers both virtual and in-person lessons during its programme.
Samushonga points out the importance of face-to-face learning.
“A physical space for learning facilitates community, inspiration, innovation and provides a safe place for our students to share experiences and iron out challenges they may be facing in mastering the coursework. KZN youth wanting a career in software programming can now apply to study at a campus on their doorstep.”
According to reports, the edtech startup is focused on increasing the number of female students within its programming courses.
“WeThinkCode_ is open to everyone. Specifically, we aim to increase the number of women programmers on our course and our target is for women to exceed 40 percent of our student contingent in 2021. Finding candidates with the right aptitude and attitude is crucial and therefore we are using a newly-developed approach to identify youth with the required cognitive skills. These are individuals that would otherwise be overlooked by traditional selection methods. In addition, we draw on the expertise of leading technologists for the design of our course material. These experts are continually updating the curriculum content to keep it relevant as the technology landscape changes,” Samushonga concludes.
