The Apple Developer Academy (ADA) is breaking down barriers and adding new frameworks to support learners at every stage of their career journey in tech. With the introduction of the Operations School last year, learners are expanding upon the skills they learned at the Apple Developer Academy through additional workforce training and educational opportunities.

 

What is the Apple Developer Academy?

The Apple Developer Academy is a free, 10-month program established in partnership with Michigan State University and Apple, through support of Gilbert Family Foundation, to equip talent with the skills needed to thrive in Detroit’s rapidly expanding tech sector. Since opening in 2021, over1,000 students have graduated from ADA, where they learned coding, design, marketing, project management, and AI technology.

 

Multilayered Support: Renaissance Program and Operations School

The Renaissance Program is a second-year initiative supporting 50 ADA graduates as they transition into their careers, through mentorship and leadership development and the opportunity to work on a real client-facing project to gain job experience. In 2024, the Apple Developer Academy added another layer to the Renaissance program by partnering with the Operations School, a nonprofit with a mission to train empower and equip BIPOC startups with the skills needed to scale and manage their organizations. The six-month Operations School curriculum focuses on business operations, branding, financial management, staffing, strategy and more, plus a first of its kind entrepreneurship training certificate.  The goal of the program is simple: help new developers monetize their skills, regardless of their career objective. Watch the video to hear more about the Operations School and its impact on learners who participated in the program.

 

 

How the “OSchool” Benefits Tech Learners

“The Renaissance program and Operations School integrates seamlessly to create a comprehensive learning journey,” said Racheal Allen, Founder and CEO of the Operations School. “Renaissance learners have learned valuable coding, web development and project management skills and the OSchool curriculum helps them apply that knowledge to the business world. They learn how to become gig workers, consultants and entrepreneurs by learning how to get legal, branded, operational, profitable and how to leverage systems and technology into their practices.” This holistic approach has given learners a strong foundation to build up their careers – and the feedback speaks for itself. Response to the “OSchool” has been so positive that there are now plans to implement the curriculum at the beginning of the ADA/Renaissance Program.  For Allen, the success of the “OSchool” underscores the importance of a holistic entrepreneurial curriculum with benefits that transcend a single career. “We believe we are helping the learners create skills that will serve them for life,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is one of the fastest growing sectors and yet, programs that provide high quality instruction, real world knowledge and practical application skills are still inaccessible for most Americans, especially those who are low income.” It’s why investing in programs like the Apple Developer Academy are so relevant. Detroit’s population has grown for the first time in decades, and the city’s tech sector is rapidly following suit. It’s critical that residents have access to the new opportunities for economic mobility that will arise from this progress.