Many Apple users have already toyed with the idea of developing an app – for a very personal need, a community benefit or simply for fame and fortune. But the hurdles are high, because learning a programming language is far from enough: project management, the design of user interfaces and the integration of server services require knowledge and experience on a wide range of levels. In order to disseminate relevant knowledge, Apple has set up “Developer Academies”. Anyone who is accepted can take part in theoretical teaching units and practical app development courses free of charge. WIRED magazine took a closer look at the only US branch in Detroit and discovered something surprising. The Apple Developer Academy in Detroit is linked to Michigan State University, whose campus is located in Lansing, 145 kilometers away. Apple provides course content, devices (MacBooks and iPhones for all students), and limited financial resources. Apple’s financial support is approximately $11.6 million over the first four years. Another $9.6 million was raised through donations from billionaire Dan Gilbert and the local credit union (a type of cooperative bank). State support and course fees from non-academic visitors contributed $2.6 million to the budget.
Hidden costs for the public sector
In fact, the funding from tax revenue was much higher: The state of Michigan paid each visitor to the Apple Developer Academy a monthly scholarship of $800 to $1,500. In four years the costs added up to about $6 million. When these scholarships are included, Apple’s share of funding the total cost of around $20,000 per student per year is less than fifty percent. For many students, the scholarship was not enough to survive and they had to look for a job while studying.
70 percent pass
In the first four years, seven out of ten graduates passed the final exam. Of these, 71 percent were able to get a full-time job in IT – just under half of those who originally started their studies. Graduates were still largely satisfied with the one-year program; many wished that they could stay at the educational institution for a second year. This is currently only offered to 50 of the 200 participants in the one-year training course.
Focus on teamwork and equal opportunities
According to Gordon Shukwit, who is responsible for Apple’s developer academies, Apple has clear goals: They want to teach the teamwork, research and technology skills that are an advantage in any IT career. He was pleased that many wanted to be able to study for a second year and was open to adjustments. Tim Cook also emphasized that Apple had to make a contribution to creating equal opportunities. That’s probably why Apple chose Detroit as its location – since the widespread collapse of the auto industry there, this city has been particularly hard hit by unemployment. Almost all Apple Developer Academies are located outside western industrialized nations: In Europe there is only one in Naples, Italy; ten are based in Brazil, five in Indonesia, plus one location each in Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
