ReDI School of Digital Integration
ReDI School of Digital Integration is a non-profit coding school for locals and newcomers without access to digital education, with several locations in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. The school’s name comes from “readiness” and “digital integration.”
The tech school was born out of an idea that every human being has the right (and should have the access to) live up to their full potential. Simultaneously, the school tackles stereotypes about newcomers to Europe, helping them build, transfer, and expand their qualifications and skills in the digital economy and support them in finding work across EU start-ups and tech companies.
Background and aims
ReDI School of Digital Integration kicked off in 2015 and delivered its first training courses in the following year. Since then, the school offers a variety of courses each year - from ICT basics to more advanced courses in specific digital technologies, with the aim of providing the best possible education to those in most need.
A semester takes 3-4 months (part time) and the teachers are volunteer tech experts. There are 4 main clusters of programmes on offer:
- Digital Career Program – the students participate in a 4-month program with usually two weekly classes, taught by volunteers. The courses are free.
- Digital Women Program – the program aims at empowering women by helping them develop their digital skills and integrate into the local society and job market. The teachers are experienced professionals, volunteering their time on a weekly basis.
- Digital Youth Program – for people between 18 and 30 years old. The course is in German or Danish.
- Kids Program – ReDI School teams up with PxP embassy to empower disadvantaged kids and youth.
In addition, the students get access to a large number of workshops, professional networks, job training, and conferences, career workshops, company visits, job matching, etc. The aim is to offer a network of support after the student graduates too: comprised of tech leaders, alumni and learners, enabling them to create and give voice to opportunities.
Why is this a good practice?
Since its start back in 2015, ReDI has trained over 21.311 students from more than 120 nations with the help of 4.700 volunteer teachers and around 100 partner companies. It is certified in accordance with the German Regulation on the Accreditation and Approval for Employment Promotion (AZAV) and has received multiple awards, including recognition from the Financial Times as one of the 100 most innovative initiatives in Europe.
Co-founder Anne Kjær Bathel (nee Riechert) was named “Encourager of the Year” by Handelsblatt in 2018 and received the German Start-up Award as “Female Social Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2020. Originally set up in Berlin, ReDI today has offices throughout Germany, and has expanded to offer programmes in Denmark and Sweden too.
More than 1.500 IT experts from over 30 countries are trained every semester as coachers, mentors or teachers, making the ReDI network an engaging success and encouraging more and more people to jumpstart their careers. ReDI's career support network also bridges the gap between companies seeking talent, and jobseekers and helps learners become confident players in the world of work.
Discover more about Redi School of Digital Integration and watch now the video testimonial by ReDI School and their partner ISC on their cybersecurity pledge.
