Students 'code' the distance in RMIT's Apple Foundation Program

Students who recently completed the Apple Foundation Program share their experiences at the recent inauguration of a new learning facility dedicated to the course.

First introduced in 2023, the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT is a four-week learning program where participants are introduced to the fundamentals of app development.

Working in teams, their aim is to design and pitch an app prototype that solves a real-world problem. With mentors, participants learn how to utilise the Apple ecosystem and products like Swift for Xcode and are introduced to UX/UI concepts like design thinking.

“I’ve always thought of app development as something incredibly challenging, but it turned out much easier with the help from the mentors,” said Mason Cao, a program alumnus.

“After the program, I realised I wanted to pursue app development full time.”

Mason was recently announced as a 2024 Apple Swift Student Challenge winner, a worldwide coding challenge run by Apple, where participants use their skills to create ideas that may be published on the app store for anyone to use.

“Looking back, the program provided a launchpad that eventually led me to win the Apple Swift Student Challenge 2024,” he reflected.

“I believe the goal of technology should be to embrace new changes and advancements, while also making sure it is accessible to everyone. The Apple Foundation Program at RMIT aligns with those values perfectly.”

Program provides skills-upgrade

For Dot Georgoulas, the path into the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT was different to Mason’s. She is mid-career and has over 25 years of design industry experience specialising in Communication Design, Branding, Exhibition Design, Design Strategy and UX/UI design.

Dot has worked in full-service design studios, tertiary design education, the museum cultural sector and most recently has been working in the Software as a Service technology industry.

Her passion for User Interface Design was ignited while working on a digital transformation project for one of Australia’s largest Museums. Her curiosity led to further studies in Human-centred design, Design thinking, UX/UI design before discovering the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT.

“As a designer learning app development, I thrived by being immersed in Apple technology, from Airdrop, Keynote, Human Interface Guidelines to Swift UI, Swift code, Swift playgrounds and Apple Developer tools,” she said.

“Through challenged-based learning, I enjoyed the collaboration and problem-solving opportunities during the development of our project, especially in the final week when consolidating the value of our idea and resolving the design in the lead up to delivering the final app pitch.”

“The Apple Foundation Program at RMIT provided me with the opportunity to learn about app development through inspiration, collaboration, research, design, problem solving, storytelling and coding while utilising my design experience and passion for creativity with technology.”

Professor Karin Verspoor, Dean of RMIT's School of Computing Technologies interviews former graduates of the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT at the launch of the new space.

Building confidence in tech

For Sasha Nazareth, a graduate of the inaugural ‘Women in Tech’ cohort, open only to women, it was the belief and confidence that she gained from the program that helped her secure her a job in the FinTech industry this year.

“It gave me so much confidence for public speaking, that even though I am just 23 years old I can still speak with confidence and be taken seriously by individuals older than me,” she explained.

Originally graduating with an Arts Degree, majoring in Economics from St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, India, Sasha said that being part of the first ‘Women in Tech’ cohort has made her want to empower other women to work in the tech sector.

“I genuinely want to empower young women interested in tech, because even if I can create an impact in one individual's life that would make me so happy and fulfilled,” she said.

Over 100 students have now graduated from the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT, ranging in age from 18-60, with over 60% of the graduates being women, including 100% of a ‘Women in Tech’ cohort.

RMIT’s successful collaboration with Apple to deliver this program has recently seen the University build and open a new, dedicated, million-dollar learning space for the program in the NAS Building on City campus, featuring both a prime location and the latest in Apple technology.

Professor Karin Verspoor, Executive Dean of Computer Sciences at RMIT, said creating a more diverse technology workforce is key to solving Australia’s digital skills shortage.

“By providing opportunities for groups not well-represented in the tech sector, we can exponentially increase the pool of talent available, as well as give graduates an exciting and otherwise-unachievable opportunity for a fulfilling career,” she said.

“It’s for this reason I’m really proud that 60% of our graduates are women. However, workforce diversity isn’t just about gender.”

“We’ve had plenty of learners who are years or decades into their career, who see the Apple Foundation Program at RMIT as a great opportunity to reskill themselves and change direction, particularly given you don’t need coding experience to apply.”

The Apple Foundation Program at RMIT will be running more cohorts throughout 2024, including a second Women in Tech cohort in August.

Learn more about the program and apply

01 May 2024

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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Students 'code' the distance in RMIT's Apple Foundation Program