Software

Join Powercoders Career Day on June 5 to hire a computer programming intern

by Alp ICT

A computer coding school for refugees arrives in Romandie

Powercoders is a computer coding school for refugees, supported by the State Secretariat for Migration. Its aim is to set up six course programs in Switzerland over the next three years. At present, the non-profit association is establishing its project in Lausanne, following great success in Berne and Zurich.

Switzerland has too few IT specialists: the latest study by the trade association ICT Vocational Training Switzerland predicts a shortage of 24,800 professionals by 2024. On the other hand, Europe is facing challenges due to the flow of refugees. Never before have so many people (over 65 million) been on the run. In Switzerland, too, immigration is one of the population's main concerns. Among these, the professional integration of refugees is becoming an increasingly difficult task for the authorities. By offering refugees direct access to jobs in the IT sector, the Powercoders association is helping to reduce social costs and combat the shortage of qualified personnel.

"Powercoders" one of Switzerland's most successful integration programs

In April 2017, 15 refugees graduated in Berne. Of these, 60% hold permanent jobs or have started apprenticeships. 20% are still studying at university. Only 20% have not yet succeeded in their professional integration. In Zurich, in December 2017, 18 refugees graduated. 17 have started an internship and one participant is starting an apprenticeship in the summer.

Ali Alshweiki, a 30-year-old Syrian refugee, will start the Powercoders program at the end of April. Having arrived in Switzerland in 2013, Ali has already studied computer science in Syria. After learning French and completing an occupation program as a web developer, he began his master's degree in software engineering at the HES-SO. He graduated in March. " I sent in over 100 job applications, but I wasn't even invited to a single interview," says a disappointed Ali. For Ali, Powercoders will be the gateway to the IT industry and to a successful career in this field in Switzerland.

Powercoders is looking for IT internships throughout French-speaking Switzerland.

To ensure rapid and successful integration on the job market, candidates are carefully selected (after an interview and an IT test) on the basis of their motivation, their interest in the IT field, their command of English and their prior knowledge of programming.

The training in Lausanne began on April 23, 2018, takes place over 13 weeks and consists of two phases:

During the first 6 weeks, candidates review essential web languages (HTML, CSS, Javascript, etc.) and agile methodologies,
Candidates meet with companies interested in taking them on as interns, and over the following 6 weeks, each candidate is trained in the technology(ies) desired by the company wishing to take him/her on as an intern for 3 to 9 months (starting mid-August).

A "CAREER DAY" will be held on Tuesday, June 5 in Lausanne, to allow companies to present themselves and meet candidates: follow this link to register https://goo.gl/forms/z2CrDymfGzYdH7Ul1