Professor Ian Burnett, Deputy Vice Chancellor STEM College and Vice-President RMIT University, officially launched the new space today.
“We are proud to be opening this new learning space for the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT, and to be expanding the program in 2024,” said Burnett.
"This program supports The Accord’s call to address the gaps and disadvantages in the national tertiary education and skills system.
The future of work requires more opportunities for lifelong learning, and this program offers reskilling and upskilling for under-represented groups in the technology sector.”
From undergraduates studying engineering, health sciences, marketing, and more, to adult learners and working professionals, Apple Foundation Program participants come together to learn the language of technology and acquire highly transferable skills to bolster their future careers.
Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations, Enterprise and Education Marketing, said “Apple and RMIT share a passion to equip students with the essential skills to succeed in the booming app economy."
"Since our partnership began in 2017, hundreds of RMIT students from diverse backgrounds have refined their real-world problem solving abilities, and gained proficiency in design and app development using Swift, igniting creativity and unlocking new pathways to jobs.
“We are thrilled that RMIT is deepening its support of the Apple Foundation Program through a new dedicated facility and expanding its iOS courses to prepare even more graduates for careers in app development.”
Apple Foundation Program at RMIT graduate, Mason Cao, says the course inspired him to discover career pathways he’d never previously considered.
“I’ve always thought of app development as something incredibly challenging, but it turned out to be much easier with help from mentors in the Apple Foundation Program," Cao said.
"Getting to immerse myself in such a dynamic and creative environment has increased my confidence and empowered me to take on even bigger challenges like pursuing app development full-time.
"I believe the goal of technology should be to embrace new changes and advancements, while also making sure it is accessible to everyone. The Apple Foundation Program at RMIT aligns with those values perfectly.”
Story: Sarah Gates and Finn Devlin