42 Wolfsburg –
for next generation’s tech talents
Many institutions promote learning by doing, but the Coding School 42 Wolfsburg also skilfully puts this into practice: the educational model of the "coding school for everyone" focuses on project-based peer-to-peer learning and not on theoretical lessons. True to the motto, this means: "No courses. No classes. No teachers." – a system that completely dispenses with rigid structures and hierarchies. Does it work? The school's success speaks for itself!
No courses. No classes. No teachers
42 Wolfsburg stands for coding excellence at university level, but also for radical integration and inclusion. In practice, this means no tuition fees and no entry requirements, in order to give as many interested people access as possible. During the entrance tests, the so-called piscines, talented IT-interested students from the age of 18 can prove themselves and qualify for a spot at 42 Wolfsburg.
The innovative training concept in English focuses on project-based learning – without books, classes and teachers, but autonomously on campus within a gamified project environment. Through independent work on practical problems, the entire spectrum of IT can be learned, as well as specifications in the automotive sector and in software engineering. Sounds abstract at first, but it's exactly what the students particularly appreciate about the school: "I always wanted to study coding and had already tried it at a university, but quickly realised that the university style didn't suit me. That's why I was so excited about 42 and the fact that you can set your own pace," student Vincent tells us in an interview.
42 gives me a level of freedom in how, when and where I work and how I spend my time in general. Of course, it also requires a high level of discipline, self-motivation and organisation – skills that I find incredibly valuable in both my professional and private life. So 42 not only teaches me how to programme, but also gives me the opportunity to improve my soft skills and work ethic.SaskiaStudentin at 42 Wolfsburg
Why 42? – The short history behind the coding schools
The first 42 Campus was founded in Paris in 2013 with the vision of bringing software development education up to date. The name 42 is a reference to the science fiction book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by British author Douglas Adams – a popular work, especially in the IT and tech community. In Douglas' book, 42 is the ultimate answer to the question of life, the universe – simply the answer to everything. The network now comprises 33 campuses in over 20 countries with currently around 10,000 students. The technical content as well as the peer-based learning model are continuously developed to reflect current and future needs of the tech world.
42 Wolfsburg meets Volkswagen
At Volkswagen, we strongly believe in the school's mission and support it in creating an ecosystem that empowers students to launch successful IT careers and lead responsible, entrepreneurial lives. We believe that everyone who wants to can code and work in IT. As a cooperation partner, we therefore provide students with experts and enable them to gain practical experience through internships, among other things.
