FAMOUS PROGRAMMING SCHOOL 42 COMES TO HEILBRONN

Increasing digitalization is also increasing the demand for well-trained IT specialists. The shortage of skilled workers is particularly pronounced in this area, and is also clearly noticeable in the Heilbronn-Franken region. In order to counteract this shortage and to support companies in the region in accessing highly trained IT specialists, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation is supporting the establishment of the French programming school 42 in Heilbronn.

"In order to strengthen our society and economy of tomorrow, we need bold concepts and extraordinary innovations in the field of information technology that will fundamentally change our future working world," explains Prof. Reinhold R. Geilsdörfer, Managing Director of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, the background to the founding of 42 in Heilbronn. "It is precisely these characteristics - different, innovative, revolutionary - that are found in the DNA of 42, whose special didactic concept will enrich Heilbronn and the region."

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINING

Unlike traditional colleges or universities, 42 relies on the innovative pedagogy of "peer to peer" learning. Without a teacher or conventional teaching, students are responsible for their own success and that of their fellow students in a 100 percent practical project environment. In order to make progress, they must rely on the strength of the group and move forward together. This means that students switch roles between "teachers" to help others and "learners" to make progress in certain subject areas themselves.
This learning model is based - similar to the professional world - on collective intelligence and helps develop talent. The focus here is on searching, experimenting and defending your own ideas, not on classic learning models such as reproducing or memorizing certain teaching content.

The concept of 42 deliberately aims to enable students to search for solutions themselves and to exchange ideas with fellow students in order to then share what they have learned with others.

With the aim of training the best talents in the field of computer programming, anyone interested has the chance to apply to 42. The programming school is open to everyone, regardless of background, gender or age. 42 also sees itself as an innovative social lab that is committed to building the society of tomorrow, which should be characterized by integration, care and mutual support.
The selection of students who are trained at 42 is made solely on the basis of talent and motivation and requires a multi-stage admission system: After registering via the website, an initial selection is made online using an aptitude test. After this test, the selected students complete a four-week preparatory course, the so-called "Piscine", in which various practice-oriented projects are implemented. The best applicants are admitted to the 42. The training at the programming school is free of charge and exempt from any tuition fees.

42 LOCATIONS WORLDWIDE

The IT school, founded in 2013, has its headquarters in Paris and 28 other locations worldwide in California, Finland, the Netherlands, Brazil, Indonesia, Armenia, Japan, Jordan, Colombia, Spain, Canada, Italy, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Belgium, Russia and Morocco - with a total of around 9,000 students worldwide.

The new branch in Heilbronn is scheduled to be the first German location to open by the beginning of 2021. In cooperation with the main location in Paris and after successful contract negotiations, the staff base as well as the equipment, offers and programs of the new IT school are now being gradually built up.

In a globalized, almost borderless digital world, gaining international experience has become a must. 42 promotes the intercultural competence of its students, who - once they have mastered the basics - can enroll in any other school in the network and benefit from the same educational concept there. This globally open, international strategy is also evident in the implementation of cross-location projects (three locations in different countries), which enable students to gain initial professional experience and to learn about working with diverse cultures and in different time zones.

The Dieter Schwarz Foundation supports the establishment of the programming school by providing the financial resources and infrastructure for equipping the premises.

The Dieter Schwarz Foundation is supporting the establishment of the programming school by providing the financial means and infrastructure for equipping the premises.

The initiative to bring the 42 concept to Germany was started last year by entrepreneur Hester Spiegel-van den Steenhoven, who is committed to establishing new educational systems in Germany, among other places. "We are very grateful to Ms. Spiegel-van den Steenhoven for her initiative and the very important persuasive work she has done in recent months," explains Prof. Geilsdörfer. "We are happy that we can also draw on Ms. Spiegel-van den Steenhoven's extensive expertise in the further development work."

ABOUT 42

42 is the first free programming school that is open to everyone over the age of 18, regardless of their school or university qualifications. The training is based on peer-to-peer learning: participatory, no classes, no professors. All this allows students to develop their creativity thanks to project-based learning. 42 was founded in 2013 by Xavier Niel when the computer industry was suffering from a major shortage of developers. In order to train the best talents of tomorrow, regardless of their origin, 42 operates internationally and is part of a group of partner campuses within its 42 network (France, USA, Belgium, Morocco, Finland, Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, Armenia, Japan, Colombia, Spain, Canada, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Jordan).
More information at www.42.fr

ABOUT THE DIETER SCHWARZ FOUNDATION

Education, science and innovation are of crucial importance for the development and future viability of the country. The Dieter Schwarz Foundation has therefore set itself the goal of building on these pillars and promoting lifelong learning. Current focal points include the educational campus in Heilbronn and the nearby Science Center experimenta, where visitors are inspired by science and technology. The founder's guiding principle has shaped the foundation's work since its establishment in 1999:

"Education is our most important raw material."

Dieter Schwarz