The WebForce3 Academy, which opened for business within the Technoport of Esch-sur-Alzette on 30 November 2015, welcoming its first intake of 16 students, was officially inaugurated on 14 January 2016 in the presence of Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg’s Minister of Labour, Employment, Social Services and Charities, Isabelle Schlesser, the head of ADEM, and a French delegation.
While visiting the Academy – the first of its kind in the Grand-Duchy – the minister met the first intake of students: job-seekers whom he referred to as “pioneers” and whom he insisted on congratulating for their commitment and motivation.
For although there is no pre-requisite for applying (you only need a baccalaureate), motivation is doubtless the most determinant element for selection.
Indeed, motivation is vital to succeed in following the “Fit4coding” training course dispensed by the Academy, which comprises 490 hours of intensive courses over a period of only 3 ½ months, amid the highly stimulating environment of Luxembourg’s Technoport.The aim of this pilot project is to train up 90 “developers” over the next 18 months. These will be technicians – junior developers and integrators – who will be operational as soon as they leave the Academy.
The launch of the WebForce3 Academy in Luxembourg forms part of the “Fit4coding” strategic initiative launched by the government of Luxembourg and co-financed by the European Social Fund; it is the outcome of a partnership between ADEM and NumericALL, the company which operates the Academy as a franchise on behalf of Luxembourg.
The WebForce3 academy has all it takes to be a great success: an innovative teaching method, a close partnership with both the public sector, via ADEM, and the private sector, via leading companies of the digital economy. This project bears witness to the determination of the government to invest in people’s skills in order to prepare them for the digital transformation. Investment in skilled labour is a fundamental pillar of the ‘Digital Luxembourg’ strategy.
As part of this project, NumericALL is being backed by a number of leading companies, including Vanksen, Kneip and PWC. Talks are already under way with other major players in the economy to determine the skills that they need.
The opening of the WebForce 3 Academy in Luxembourg constitutes a concrete action of the Digital Luxembourg initiative, aimed at consolidating the country’s positioning in the field of ICT and transforming Luxembourg into a “high tech” centre of excellence.
