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Twelve months to a career in tech.

AOK Foundation Academy trains young Africans in one technical discipline, then introduces the strongest of them to companies that are hiring. Remote, so where you live does not decide whether you can take part.

Apply now
Length 12 months
Format Remote
You study One track

About the Academy

Plenty of people have the ability to work in tech and no route in. No one in the family has done it, the good roles ask for experience you have not been given the chance to get, and the courses that would help cost more than you have.

The Academy exists for that gap. It is run by AOK Foundation, it lasts twelve months, and it ends with an introduction to a company that is hiring rather than a certificate to add to a pile.

See how it works

Illustration of the technical disciplines taught at AOK Foundation Academy

Twelve months, one discipline

Courses, then a practical challenge, then an interview with a partner company. No filler.

Before you apply

Three things worth checking before you fill in the form.

Can you apply?

You are a good fit if all four are true:

  • You have already started learning your chosen track — we are not the place to begin from zero.
  • You can say why you picked it.
  • You have a laptop that works, internet access and electricity.
  • You can give the programme real time for twelve months.

What you will do

Twelve months in one discipline. You work through a sequence of courses, then prove what you learned by building something rather than by sitting an exam. The standard is what employers ask for, not what is easy to teach.

Where it leads

Finish well and you become eligible for placement with our partner companies. We make the introduction and put your work in front of them. The company makes the hiring decision — we will not pretend otherwise.

What you can study

Each participant follows one path for the full twelve months. Choose the one you already have some grounding in — depth beats breadth here.

Software Development
UI/UX Design
Data Analysis & Visualisation
Data Science
AI / Machine Learning
Cybersecurity
Cloud Computing
DevOps
Quality Assurance
Product Management

This may not be the right fit

We would rather you knew now than six months in. The Academy is probably not for you if you are looking for a short course, if you want to sample several tracks, if you are in full-time study and cannot free up the hours, or if you are hoping to start a technical subject completely from scratch. None of those make you a weak candidate — they just make this the wrong programme, and a later cohort may suit you better.

How it works

Four stages, in order.

  1. Apply

    Pick your path before you start the form. Applications that name a discipline and show why are the ones that get through — meeting the entry requirements is what decides whether you are accepted.

  2. Learn

    You work through a sequence of online courses built for your path. This is the longest stage and the one that determines everything after it.

  3. Take on the challenge

    After the courses you take a practical challenge. It is a concrete demonstration that you can do the work — which is what a hiring manager wants to see, and what a certificate alone never proves.

  4. Interview

    Passing the challenge earns you an interview with one of our partner companies. This is the final stage, and the company makes its own decision. We put your work in front of them and stand behind it.

Questions

  • How much time will this take each week?

    Enough that you should plan around it rather than fit it in. The programme runs for twelve months and expects you to be available throughout — people who treat it as a side activity tend not to reach the challenge stage.

  • What is AOK Foundation Academy?

    A twelve-month training programme run by AOK Foundation. We train young people in one technical discipline and connect the strongest of them to companies that are hiring. The aim is a job, not a certificate.

  • What do I need to qualify?

    A working foundation in the track you are applying for, and the tools to learn remotely: a dependable laptop, internet access and electricity. You do not need a degree, and you do not need to have worked in tech before.

  • How long does it run?

    Twelve months.

  • Can I apply while I am at university?

    You can apply, but be honest with yourself about the hours. The programme expects you to be available throughout, and that is hard to combine with full-time study. A later cohort will serve you better than a place you cannot use.

  • What if I finish and do not get a job?

    Your profile stays with us and we keep putting it in front of partner companies as roles come up. We cannot promise a job — the hiring decision is always the company's — but finishing the programme does not end our involvement, and you keep everything you built along the way.

  • What happens to the information I submit?

    We keep your application and your work so we can refer you to partner companies. We share it with a company only in connection with a role, and you can ask us to remove your details at any time by emailing info@aokfoundation.org.

Ready to apply?

Pick your path, check you meet the requirements, and send the form. If you have a question this page did not answer, email info@aokfoundation.org.

Apply now