Coding Bootcamps in the MENA Region: An Overview
Insights on the coding bootcamps industry with case-studies from Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Kuwait.
While the MENA is the world’s second youngest region with over half the population under the age of 30, the unemployment rate of youth is almost double in comparison to the global average. Educational offering in the region is not generating graduates with 21st-century skills, including skills in coding and computer science. Rapid growth in the technology sector worldwide, and to a lower degree in the region, has led to an increased demand for workers with tech skills. A new entrant is emerging to address this gap in the market: coding bootcamps.
New models in tech skills training
Coding bootcamp is a term that is applied generically to intense rapid tech-skills training programs that began in 2012. This kind of training varies in duration, depth, curriculum, and programs, and connection with employment opportunities.
A study commissioned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conceptualized four broad models dominating the coding bootcamp market (ITU 2016):
- Ready-to-Work Model: This is the traditional approach to coding bootcamps — Intensive three to six months full or part-time skills training program that prepares people to qualify for employment in entry-level tech jobs shortly after the training ends.
- Bootcamp+ Model: This is an extended training approach — longer training programs (one to two years) that equip students with a broader range of skills (programming, project management, entrepreneurship, etc).
- Mini Bootcamp Model: Very short-term educational programs ranging in length from two days to one month. They are typically designed to trigger interest in computer programming.
- Early Education Model: These are educational programs to prompt interest in coding at an early age. This model includes workshops, hackathons, and online platforms as well as integrating programming skills into schools’ curriculum.
In the following, we will be focusing on the traditional approach to coding bootcamps: the Ready-to-Work model.
Why coding bootcamps are a game changer?
Coding bootcamps are designed to train participants in computer programming skills to make them immediately employable in entry-level tech jobs. Basically, they combine characteristics of traditional vocational education with the intensity of military bootcamps. They follow a project-based approach and match current industry needs and market demand.
Let’s explore three different coding bootcamps across various countries in the MENA region : 3W Academy (Morocco), Go My Code (Tunisia), SE Factory (Lebanon) and Coded (Kuwait).
3W Academy (Morocco)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- Legal structure: for-profit enterprise
- Number of years in operations: 1 year (since 2018)
- Number of students trained (to date): 100 graduates
BOOTCAMP PROGRAM:
- Cost to participants: 20000 MAD (2000 USD)
- Bootcamp participants: Open to all participants
- Duration of the bootcamp: 4 months full-time
- Bootcamp curriculum: Full-Stack Web Development
3W Academy Maroc is a for-profit company that aims at addressing youth unemployment in Morocco through accessible tech education (one in three Moroccan graduates of higher education institutions cannot find jobs). It was founded by Hamza Debbarh and began operating in October 2018. The company is affiliated with the 3W Academy network which is present in 11 campuses across France, Morocco, and Tunisia.
3W Academy Maroc focuses on a single core program that teaches students full-stack web development. The highly intensive program is designed for beginners with minimal or no coding background, engages students in a four-month full-time training. 100+ students have graduated from the program to date with a placement rate of 85%.
Go My Code (Tunisia)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- Legal structure: for-profit enterprise
- Number of years in operations: 3 years (since 2017)
- Number of students trained (to date): 2000 graduates
BOOTCAMP PROGRAM:
- Cost to participants: 2500 DT (892 USD)
- Bootcamp participants: Open for all
- Duration of the bootcamp: 12 weeks full-time
- Bootcamp curriculum: Full-Stack Web Development
Go My Code is a for-profit company that was founded by Yahya Bouhlal and Amine Bouhlel, and began operating in January 2017. It is currently present in three cities across Tunisia (Tunis, Sfax, and Sousse).
Go My Code has various course offerings covering the Ready-to-Work model and the Mini Bootcamp/Early Education models. It offers a core program that teaches students JavaScript and full-stack web development. The program is highly intensive, as a 12 weeks full-time training. 2000 students have graduated across all the programs with a placement rate of 90%.
SE Factory (Lebanon)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- Legal structure: Nonprofit organization
- Number of years in operations: 3 years (since 2016)
- Number of students trained (to date): 94 students
BOOTCAMP PROGRAM:
- Cost to participants: 100 USD upfront payment + Equivalent of a one-month salary if employed after the bootcamp.
- Bootcamp participants: Open for all
- Duration of the bootcamp: 3 months
- Bootcamp curriculum: Full-Stack Web Development
SE Factory (Software Engineering Factory) is a non-profit coding bootcamp that teaches the technical and soft-skills skills necessary to become a professional web developer. Founded by Fadi Bizri and Zeina Saab, the Beirut-based coding bootcamp is trying to solve a two-folded problem in the Lebanese tech scene: on one hand, companies face the shortage of developers, and on the other hand, computer science graduates lack the skills to access tech jobs.
SE Factory offers a three-month intensive program in full-stack web development that covers a wide range of technical subjects. 94 people have graduated from the program, 68 of them found full-time jobs in 2 months from graduation day.
Coded (Kuwait)
GENERAL INFORMATION:
- Legal structure: for-profit enterprise
- Number of years in operations: 5 years (since 2015)
- Number of students trained (to date): 250 students
BOOTCAMP PROGRAM:
- Cost to participants: 2450 KWD (8000 USD)
- Bootcamp participants: Open for all
- Duration of the bootcamp: 14 Weeks
- Bootcamp curriculum: Full-Stack Web Development
Coded is Kuwait’s first coding bootcamp. It was founded by Ahmad Marafi and Hashim Behbehani in April 2015.
Coded offers full-time and part-time programs in full-stack web development, with a focus on Python and Django. The program is designed for beginners with minimal or no coding background or experience. The program is highly intensive, as a 12-week full-time program. 250 students have graduated from the program.
Coding bootcamps have become an important pipeline for tech talent: they are already graduating over 36000 students each year around the world. They can be a viable solution to youth unemployment and contribute to improving the competitiveness of the IT sector in the MENA region.
This post is part of a series dedicated to report on the coding bootcamp industry in Morocco and the MENA region. Thanks for reading!
