UP to 80 students could benefit from a free technology course this summer.
Run by, IT company, Kainos and Belfast Metropolitan College, Code-Camp, a free two-week course in mobile app creation, will offer students the chance to work closely with mentors in a real-world software development environment.
Targeting bright 17- to 19-year-olds the drive aims to nurture the next generation of technology talent.
Taking place from July 22 to August 2, the initiative will equip the chosen students with technology development skills in a real-world setting and will be hosted at Belfast Met’s brand new e3 Campus.
Applicants must have qualifications in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and those accepted onto the Kainos CodeCamp will use MIT App Inventor to create real apps for Android phones that can be published to Google’s Play Store.
Kainos is well-known for developing local talent. Other activities include the Code4Derry and AppCamp schemes aimed at university students, and the recently-launched Earn as you Learn scheme offering well-paid work and mentoring to top A-Level students while funding them through university.
Commenting on the impetus behind CodeCamp, Tom Gray, CTO at Kainos, said: “The UK has a long heritage of technology innovation, but often there hasn’t been the right level of support behind the talent. Recent generations were responsible for the Internet and the iPhone; who knows what the next generation will come up with.
“Our goal is to find those creative minds that are currently locked away in their bedrooms, and give them the encouragement and backing they need to develop their talents and realise their dreams.”
The rapidly growing technology company offers particular expertise in three core markets — healthcare, financial services and public sector and was recently ranked 55 in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2013 list.
Discussing the opportunity, the Head of School Electronic and Computing Technologies at Belfast Met, Dr Jonathan Heggarty said: “We are dedicated to playing an important role in providing the talent to fill future jobs in Northern Ireland by supporting innovative programmes like CodeCamp.
This initiative will help to reinforce ICT skills learnt in the classroom with practical software development projects, equipping learners with economically relevant skills that will make a positive impact on their future career prospects.”
Tickets for the CodeCamp are available at kainoscodecamp.eventbrite.co.uk. For more information visit the company’s website www.kainos.com.