MDEC, Sunway Education kick off Malaysia’s first free coding school

• 42KL is a coding school with zero tuition fees, zero teachers and zero traditional classrooms
• Since website launch, 42KL claims to have 3,600 sign-ups; 1,600 performing online test

THE Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), in collaboration with Sunway Education Group (SEG), has officially admitted its first cohort of students to the 42KL campus, described as Malaysia’s first coding school with “zero tuition fees, zero teachers and zero traditional classrooms.”

42KL represents part of MDEC’s efforts in creating and nurturing tech talents in the country, it said in a statement.

“The World Economic Forum's (WEF) The Future of Jobs Report 2020 stated that in eight of the top 10 emerging jobs will require digital tech skills. And in LinkedIn’s Emerging Jobs Report Malaysia, 2020, six out of 10 top emerging jobs are digital-related,” said Surina Shukri, chief executive officer (CEO) of MDEC.

“All these accentuate the fact that digital jobs will be in high demand moving forward and at MDEC, we are on overdrive to ensure the pipeline of tech talents continues unhindered so that we may achieve the goals as set forth in MyDigital.”

42KL is a private, not-for-profit and tuition-free computer programming school, whose first campus was established in Paris, France in 2013. This is followed by a second campus in Sillicon Valley three years later.

It utilises a peer-to-peer learning model where there are no classes nor teachers, and students are in charge of their own success, and the success of their comrades in a 100% hands-on project environment.

To make progress, students have to count on the strength of the group, give and receive information, change roles between helping others and being helped, MDEC said.

“Working with industry, it’s great that the project-based and peer-to-peer learning approach of 42KL is provided tuition free and open to all.

“I believe, with this alternative and innovative education pathway, we can reach out to and include potentially untapped pockets of learners across the country from a wider array of backgrounds,” said Prof Elizabeth Lee, CEO of SEG.

42KL is supported by several Anchor Partners that include Sunway Group, CIMB Bank, DHL, Roland Berger, Carsome, Huawei, Standard Chartered, SIDEC, HSBC, Tenaga Nasional, FWD Insurance, and Celcom.

Strong interest

Since the launch of the 42KL website in July 2020, MDEC claimed a total of 3,600 sign-ups have been garnered up till Jan 1. Among the applicants, 1,600 are currently performing the online logic and aptitude test, with more than 600 having passed this while 225 completing the Piscine bootcamp.

A further 75 applicants have successfully been enrolled as students in the 12-month core programme.

According to MDEC, students of 42KL hail from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, with well over 50% from the B40 income group and aged between 18 and 49 years old.

“I found out about 42KL via MDEC’s LinkedIn page when I was looking for freelance job opportunities. It intrigued me as it offers tuition fee-free course and without classes. If I succeed in my current course, I will continue developing my own projects and I will look for companies to invest in them,” said Nabil Anwar, a cadet at 42KL inaugural cohort.

“I am part of the Piscine, which means I have to pass that first before I continue with the core programme. I really want to get into the core programme because it ensures mastery of a skill.

“Also, since it is a peer-to-peer environment, when help is needed on the subject matter such as when I need to solve code, other students of a different level come to my aid. So, this environment works perfectly for me,” said Nabihah Md Zaid, who is currently undergoing her Piscine.

The Piscine is a four-week long immersion bootcamp where individuals are tested on their determination and hunger to solve complex puzzles with their peers. Registrations for the next Piscine bootcamp is currently open until July 2021.

To learn more about 42KL, kindly visit here.