In a world where traditional education models are struggling to meet the needs of a rapidly changing job market, 42 Adelaide has emerged as a big player in Australia. This innovative coding school was created in 2013 by Xavier Niel, a successful French serial entrepreneur, and has now become an international reference for students and companies.
In 2021, 42, was ranked #1 most ethical school in the world and 10th most innovative in the Top 100 of the World Universities with Real Impact (WURI). 42 has campuses in over 25 countries and was brought to Australia, by social entrepreneur, Louise Nobes.
Louise first came across the 42 model in late 2018, when she went searching for the best global education models that advanced vulnerable youth and addressed the critical digital skills shortages. It took a brave and unwavering focus for her organisation, KIK Innovation, to license the model, raise the funds and open in Adelaide.
Louise’s philosophy is that all young people can be great, no matter their lived experience. This belief is at the heart of 42 Adelaide’s mission, which has aspirations to be the number one tech school in Australia for diversity and inclusion.
The school’s focus on these values has helped it attract a wide range of students from different backgrounds, who are eager to learn and grow in the tech industry.
42 Adelaide first opened its doors in June 2021 and has already seen remarkable success. Over 550 students have completed the pre selection process via a 28 day boot camp (called a piscine), with more than 300 receiving a place in the school. This is a testament to the school’s unique approach, which offers completely free learning with no classes, no teachers, and a 24/7 CBD campus.
The structure of learning at 42 Adelaide is also unique. The school uses a gamified learning approach, with over 200 projects. As students complete projects, they move on to the next one, until they are able to choose between different paths to acquire different skills. This approach allows each student to have a unique and engaging learning experience.
Louise promotes 42 Adelaide’s success to the partnerships that helped us open our doors, like Inaugural partner Uniting Communities, founding partner Loftus Technology and funding from the SA Government.
Since opening its doors, 42 Adelaide has secured many sponsors who fund the costs of the school, ‘we wouldn’t be here without them, that’s a fact’. This year we celebrate the success of our relationship with our original Platinum sponsors, SRA, who based on the amazing results of their first year round of 23 cadets, have agreed to move beyond sponsorship and make a strategic investment in 42.
“We see the sponsorship with 42 Adelaide as fundamental to our growth plans. In a tight labour market, with skills shortages and diminishing volume of graduates coming from universities, SRA made a move last year and took on 23 cadets. One year on and we’ve made the decision to increase this and escalate the sponsorship to a true partnership by making a strategic investment for long term growth, diversity and sustainability.”
Tim Chopping Chief Executive Officer for SRA
