• WeThinkCode_ enrollments have been increasing steadily since 2018 with the academy hoping to welcome 500 students in 2024.
• The majority of students who graduate from WeThinkCode_ tend to find employment in the local tech sector.
• Applications to join the 2024 cohort close at the end of July.

Local software development academy, WeThinkCode_ (WTC) was founded in 2015 and since then has been helping local students not only get an education in software development, but find a job as well.

Back in 2016, WTC welcomed a cohort of 106 students to its 24-month training programme. By 2018, 93 students had graduated from the academy representing a graduation rate of 84 percent. Most impressive however was the fact that all 93 graduates secured employment in the local tech industry.

This trend was repeated when 119 out of 144 students in the 2017 cohort graduated in 2019. Placements from the 2017 cohort were lower with only 93 percent of the 119 graduates finding employment post-graduation.

“Since our inception, WeThinkCode_ has seen a significant increase in student enrolment, from 106 in 2016 to 443 in 2023. We are targeting 500 students for the 2024 cohort,” says Kelebogile Motlhamme, Operations director at WeThinkCode_.

“The average age of enrolled students has remained around 24-25 years old, highlighting the academy’s appeal to young adults at the cusp of their careers. This growth reflects WeThinkCode_’s commitment to making tech education accessible to a broader and more diverse population,” the director added.

Over the years WTC has partnered with a number of firms including BBDm FNB, BCX, IQ Business, Momentum, Vodacom, Yoco, StructureIT and GK software. Through these partnerships, WTC students gain valuable training that insures they are ready to work. The partners also assist in connecting student to employment opportunities.

Applications to join the 2024 cohort are currently open until the end of July. All students looking to jump into software development as a career aged between 17 and 35 can apply so long as they are eligible to work in South Africa.

There are, however, only 500 spots available and with tens of thousands looking to get in, applications should be submitted as soon as possible.