csiadm November 21, 2023
The design and implementation of training programs on coding have gained momentum globally, being held in virtual and non-virtual settings, including school classrooms, informal spaces, and non-formal learning environments (labs, coding fairs, specially designed challenges, etc.). Such initiatives have been seeking to educate socially excluded groups and transform them into competent labor market players capable of reacting to the unprecedented lack of software developers in the job market, thus nurturing a new generation of technicians. The acquisition of technical skills and particularly specialized knowledge related to different programming areas has been one of the main prerequisites for both work and society. Therefore, the transfer of computer programming skills via non-formal education could be considered an efficient way to boost the communities’ socio-economic level.Through the Coding for Social Promotion (Code4SP) project, the consortium is seeking to respond to the emerging demand in terms of the provision of tailor-made coding training to digitally excluded participants, including migrants, refugees, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds (dropouts, NEET, early school leavers), through the design and implementation of a concrete operational model, able to reach a policy reform.
The target above will be achieved through the upscaling of an already existing good practice, successfully delineated and applied at a local level in Germany by a networked educational community developed by CodeDoor NGO (note: CodeDoor constitutes one of the partners of Code4SP). Together with the dissemination strategy of CodeDoor, this program has been successfully resulting in top-paid programming jobs for asylum-seekers, which boosted their social integration and their socio-economic condition, thereby turning them into role-models in their communities. Particularly, over 90% of the CodeDoor’s alumni have been able to find a job or an apprenticeship in the last four years or have set up their own start-ups.
The main objectives to which the Code4SP project intends to contribute are:
- Address traditional education institutions’ incapacity, which primarily acts as policy implementers to respond to the demand for coding training provision.
- Code4SP’s main objectives and priorities are in full interweaving with the European Commission’s goals, contributing towards providing tailored education and training to digitally excluded groups, including migrants and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, while in parallel, taking into consideration the labor market needs.
- The target will be reached through the upscaling of an already existing good practice at a local level in Germany, which had; as a result, top paid programming jobs for asylum seekers.
- Enhance employers’ motivation and predisposition for potential employment of individuals that belong to disadvantaged populations, thus breaking any negative stereotypes on this issue.
- SOCIEDADE PROMOTORA DE ESTABELECIMENTOS DE ENSINO LDA (PT)
- C.I.P. CITIZENS IN POWER (CY)
- CEPROF – CENTROS ESCOLARES DE ENSINO PROFISSIONAL LDA (PT)
- ACTION SYNERGY SA (EL)
- SOCIAL HAKER ASTIKI I KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA (EL)
- CSI CENTER FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION LTD (CY)
- CODEDOOR.ORG EV (DE)
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project Number: 621417-EPP-1-2020-1-PT-EPPKA3-IPI-SOC-IN
