Thousands of young people to be trained as software developers

Thousands of young Jamaicans will be trained as software developers to create cutting-edge technologies through the Amber HEART Coding Academy.

The academy, which was officially launched yesterday by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, is a partnership between the HEART NSTA/Trust and the Amber Group, in collaboration with the Housing, Opportunity, Production and Employment (HOPE) Programme and the Art of Living Foundation.

Holness said that the coding academy will significantly improve the employability of citizens, particularly the nation’s youth, and serve as the catalyst for a new age of digital transformation locally.

He noted that the development of the academy is the first step in creating a coding industry in the country, which will position Jamaica as a technological leader in the region.

“The services that you could provide as a result of this is incredible; the benefits, exponential. It will create a totally new industry, providing new opportunities for young Jamaicans,” he noted.

Founder and CEO of the Amber Group, Dushyant Savadia, said that software development continues to be the fastest-growing sector in the world.

He noted that last year, the market was valued at US$487 billion, and it is anticipated that it will grow to over US$507 billion in 2021.

“We, however, expect that the industry’s value will exceed this projection because more businesses are incorporating greater technology as a result of this pandemic,” Savadia said.

“Jamaica is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this growing need. We are an English-speaking country, we have the talent, and now, through the Amber HEART Academy, we will build the competencies.”

IN SYNC WITH PLANS

Welcoming the collaboration between the Amber Group and the HEART NSTA/Trust, Minister of Education, Youth and Information Fayval Williams noted that the establishment of the academy was in sync with the ministry’s plans to expand and embed science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) in schools.

National coordinator for the HOPE Programme and board member, HEART NSTA/Trust Colonel Martin Rickman, said that the first cohort of students had already settled in and had started its one-year residential training programme at the Stony Hill HEART/NSTA campus.

“We want them to gain superior coding skills through an immersive learning environment, while also equipping them with the soft skills to change their outlook and mindset. In addition, this modality will enable us to keep the students safe during the pandemic and lead them to a successful career in the shortest space of time,” Rickman said.

“The Stony Hill campus of the HEART/NSTA Trust was a natural fit to provide a beautiful environment, adequate residential facilities, as well as fostering mutual bonding and support.”

He said the aim is to train thousands of young persons over the next few years at satellite locations across the island.

“This initial phase is a pilot project, where we have engaged 100 participants in two cohorts of 50. These participants will be engaged in an intensive and immersive six-month training programme taught by a team of highly qualified master coders from the Amber Group, after which they will undergo a six-month internship programme,” he stated.

Rickman noted that the hands-on internship programme will see the participants develop software programmes alongside senior developers.

He said that at the end of the training, all successful graduates will be NCTVET-certified and guaranteed jobs through the Amber Group.

“This initiative will provide a whole new world of opportunities for those participants and for the country. This new generation of coders would have left the programme having gained not only technical skills, but the soft skills, such as stress management, problem-solving and creativity, and an innovative mindset to transform the world and position Jamaica as the next technological hub of the region,” Rickman stated.