Apple's First iOS Developer Academy to Open in October 2016 at University of Naples

Apple and the University of Naples Federico II have jointly announced that the first-ever iOS Developer Academy will open in October 2016 at the university's new campus in San Giovanni a Teduccio, a coastal suburb east of Naples, Italy. The news was first reported by German website Macerkopf.

Naples-iOS-Academy
The free academy will provide more than 200 students with "practical skills and training on developing apps" in the first year, with more to follow in the years ahead, as part of a nine-month curriculum designed and supported by Apple. The facility includes labs and access to the latest Apple hardware and software.

"We are thrilled to be working with Università di Napoli Federico II to launch the first iOS Developer Academy in Europe," said Luca Maestri, Apple's CFO.

First semester courses will focus on enhancing and improving students' software development skills on iOS, while second semester students will attend courses on the creation of startups and app design, and work together to create apps that could eventually be released on the App Store.

Students can find out more or apply on the University of Naples website. Applicants are required to take an online test in Italian or English, with successful candidates moving to an interview stage. The university will also be accepting applications through its website for teachers for the Academy in the coming months.

Apple's plans to open its first iOS app development center in Europe were first announced by CEO Tim Cook in January.

"Europe is home to some of the most creative developers in the world and we’re thrilled to be helping the next generation of entrepreneurs in Italy get the skills they need for success," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "The phenomenal success of the App Store is one of the driving forces behind the more than 1.4 million jobs Apple has created in Europe and presents unlimited opportunities for people of all ages and businesses of all sizes across the continent."

Apple expects to expand this program to other countries around the world in the future.

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Top Rated Comments

FactVsOpinion Avatar
117 months ago
That's cool and all... How about one in the USA?

Esprit de corps
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MH01 Avatar
117 months ago
Cool, if i see some usa gurls may chat them directly in naples, sweet gurls ;)
Nothing hotter than Girls who choose IT as a major ;)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Axe991 Avatar
117 months ago
My Italian is rusty, otherwise I would have read the details myself, does this mean successful applicants get to enrol at the university for free, and are only limited to the iOS course?

Or can the uni student that go through the normal enrolment process also choose this course, but without fees?

I guess the last question, how are universities in Italy funded? Do you have to pay upfront or is it subsidised by the government in a form of a student loan?

Either way, this is better than a free set of Beats headphones.
I'm Italian. I just had a quick look at the page linked in the article, but I've seen that there is the english translation at the end of the page.

I think that the students that are already enrolled can choose this course, with no additional fees.

In Italy Universities are usually publicly funded, but depending on your wealth you have to pay some taxes. The taxes are not that high, and usually don't go over €5000/year (usually half than that), but lower income students can have reductions or total exemptions and free food and housing.

Private universities are also partially funded by the state, but the fees go up to around €30000/year.

There is no student loan system.
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Of all the cities in Italy with a strong IT industry and good universities, why a troublesome city like Naples? Here's the answer: it has the lowest wages of them all. Way lower. The headquarters are in the other cities, so they can stay in touch with their clients (financial in Milan, manufacturing in Turin, government in Rome) but the slav... I mean the workforce is in Naples. I know, I've been there, and I can assure you the average wage isn't enough to live (unless you live with your parents, or share a room, or whatever). It's also "standard business practice" to not pay stagists at all.
Actually the Federico II is a really good university, apart from being the oldest public university in the world, created in 1224
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Unseen Avatar
117 months ago
Of all the cities in Italy with a strong IT industry and good universities, why a troublesome city like Naples? Here's the answer: it has the lowest wages of them all. Way lower. The headquarters are in the other cities, so they can stay in touch with their clients (financial in Milan, manufacturing in Turin, government in Rome) but the slav... I mean the workforce is in Naples. I know, I've been there, and I can assure you the average wage isn't enough to live (unless you live with your parents, or share a room, or whatever). It's also "standard business practice" to not pay stagists at all.
Is clear that you know nothing of the city of Naples: don't trust to newspapers and television, they lie. Naples has one of the best Universities of the world, and Apple knows it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Seregios Avatar
117 months ago
Actually the University of Bologna was founded in 1088 while Morocco seems to have the most ancient educational instituite in the world
http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-university
Quick research on the internet shows:

Federico II is the oldest public and laic university in the world. And is the third University in Italy by number of students enrolled. Also in 2016 it's the only generalist Italian university in the Times higher education reputation ('https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Times_higher_education_reputation&action=edit&redlink=1'), with considers the best 200 best universities in the world.

+

Several professors from various disciplines are among the top Italian Scientists by H-index. According to the 2016 QS World University Rankings ('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QS_World_University_Rankings') by subject the University of Federico II ranks respectively: 51–100 for civil engineering, 101–150 for mechanical engineering, pharmacy and pharmacology, agriculture and forestry and physics and astronomy, 151–200 for law and legal studies, medicine and chemical engineering, 201–250 for electrical and electronic engineering, mathematics, economics and econometrics, 251–300 for biological sciences, computer science and chemistry.

^That's why Apple has decided to start in Naples.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Seregios Avatar
117 months ago
Easy answer, sorta, the author of the linked article spells it out:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-paul/tim-cooks-views-on-americ_b_8854910.html
[doublepost=1468000457][/doublepost]

Clinging to an established brand for brand recognition? Like how Microsoft teamed up with IBM?
I think this is more about achieving academy
results then mere business, but that's just my opinion. Personally I can assure you we are excited to take this journey. :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)