Apple to train students on coding and developing iOS apps

Apple is set to launch a training centre in Italy, where students will learn how to code and develop iOS apps.

“Next generation of entrepreneurs”

The iOS App Development Centre in Naples will have a specialised curriculum aimed at enabling students to become part of Apple’s “developer community”, by teaching them how to create Apple software.

Alongside developing iOS apps, Apple says it will also be working with coding trainers based in Italy to create “additional opportunities” for students.

The company’s CEO Tim Cook says the programme aims to “help Italy’s next generation of entrepreneurs” get the skills “they need for success”.

1.2 million work for the App Store

He adds that the App Store has so far created 1.2 million jobs, including for app and software designers, entrepreneurs, and other non-IT jobs.

75,000 of these jobs are in Italy, where the first new learning centre is based. Apple hopes to create more training centres all over the world.

Cook says: “The phenomenal success of the App Store is one of the driving forces behind the more than 1.4 million jobs Apple has created in Europe, and presents unlimited opportunities for people of all ages, and businesses of all sizes across the continent.”

Competition with Google Play

The announcement comes as research from app analytics company App Annie shows that competition between iOS App Store and its rival Google Play is currently high.

The research reveals that the number of iOS app downloads in 2015 were half that of Google Play app downloads, available on Android devices.

Apple’s iOS downloads plateaued between 2013 and 2015, while Google Play downloads continued to rise. However, the iOS App Store generated more revenue than Google Play.

A date for the opening of the first Apple iOS App Development Centre in Naples is yet to be announced. Apple has not confirmed whether the training programme will be used to directly create new jobs within the iOS App Store team.