Apple’s first iOS Developer Academy opened in Naples, Italy this week, but the company doesn’t plan to make that its only presence in the company. At an event celebrating the opening of the Naples location, Apple’s VP of environment, policy, and social initiatives Lisa Jackson announced that Apple plans to expand its program further (via Macitynet).
Jackson explained that Apple is working with at least five universities in the Campania region to expand Apple’s initiatives in Italy with a new iOS Foundation Program. This program would see Apple offer a three to four-week course in app development to students. Apple hopes that the iOS Foundation Program will serve up to 800 students during its first year, with that number increasing from there.
While the course will be more condensed than the 9 month program offered under the iOS App Development Center, Jackson said that attendees will get a start in basic app development for iOS. Apple hopes that this will give students the “crucial skills” that are needed to get into app development.
As we reported earlier this week, Apple’s first iOS Developer Academy opened this past Thursday. 100 students will be in the program at start, with 100 more joining before this year ends. In 2017, Apple says the program will expand to 400 students.
Apple had thousands of students apply to the program and was only able to accept 200 of them, hence why the company is looking to expand the program with the iOS Foundation Program. It’s unclear at this point what universities Apple plans to partner with for the Foundation Program, but they will be located in the Campania region.
View video of Jackson’s speech below:
