Australians complete first Apple Foundation Program to learn coding and app development

Australian students have completed the first Apple Foundation Program at RMIT University in Melbourne and the University of Technology in Sydney which was designed to teach them Apple’s powerful Swift programming language.

It is a free four-week course for students of any academic background who want to learn the language of technology and acquire skills that will serve them well into the future.

In the program, students use Macs and iPhones to create an original app using Swift and Xcode and solve real world problems in a challenge-based environment to not only learn valuable skills but become better creators, collaborators and conceptual thinkers.

One UTS student, Jordan Pazdjara, in his final year of study toward a Bachelor of Advanced Science, says he always had an interest in technology and coding and was thrilled to take part in the apple foundation programme.

“My goal for 2023 is to explore different opportunities and learn new skills to help discover what I want to do after university,” Pazdjara said.

“The Apple Foundation Program gave me that opportunity. It was my chance to learn app development, cultivate ideas, and tell a story. It enabled me to delve into a new aspect of learning that sparked a passion for coding and has me considering how I can combine it with my degree once I graduate.”

UTS associate professor of Interaction Design and Apple Foundation Program director and mentor, Dr Tuck Leong, says the program delivered a lot more than the students expected.

“We welcomed a diverse group of students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds to the program. In participating, they learn about the power of design thinking, and to think creatively in exploring solutions to an issue they’re passionate about,” Leong says.

“Students collaborate to make decisions in a dynamic working environment and walk away with confidence and passion to solve problems with app designs — a desirable skill they can take into their field of study and future career.”

The iOS app economy has already created millions of jobs around the world for coders, developers engineers and designers.

Australia holds a strong position in the robust industry that supports nearly 160,000 app economy jobs.

Most of those popular apps we use today are built using Swift.

“At Apple, we believe coding is an essential skill — one that empowers students to make a real impact in their communities,” says Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations and Enterprise and Education Marketing.

“With the Apple Foundation Program we’re using Swift to introduce the fundamentals of coding and app development to aspiring entrepreneurs, developers, and designers in Australia.

“We’re proud to see everything students are accomplishing during our first program, and we can’t wait to see how their innovations are realised.”