IT qualification course helps refugees to get started in their profession

The best preparation for a new beginning in Austrian IT: a total of 13 participants spent three months learning numerous programming languages

The demand for qualified IT people is increasing. In 2017, technicians with higher degrees in data processing and graduate engineers in the field of data processing were added to the list of shortage occupations. In Vienna in particular, companies are having difficulty recruiting staff with knowledge of software technology and programming.

Refugees often have the necessary know-how, but are unable to enter a profession. They lack documentation and their qualifications are often not recognised. The Business Agency, together with the CORE, Refugees Code and Faculty of Informatics at TU Wien, offered the DEVELOPME_ qualification course, which makes it easier for participants to get started in their profession. And it works: a total of 13 participants have just spent three months learning numerous programming languages in preparation for starting new careers in the Austrian IT sector.

Mohammad Kaaed Al Japali and Shinda Hassan are two of the 13 graduates of the course. On the 13th of February, they were presented with their graduation certificates by Prof. Dr. Hannes Werthner, dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at TU Wien.

For the 37-year old Syrian, the course at TU Wien was the perfect springboard from which to dive into the IT sector. The skilled textile manager has learned several programming languages over the past three months. He taught himself many of these through independent study on the internet. He is currently taking the Google Play Store by storm with his Android apps - including an app for learning foreign languages. More than a million copies of his apps have already been downloaded. Next, he is looking to secure a traineeship position in an Austrian company and improve his own language skills. In future, he would also like to develop a range of digital training opportunities so that people all over the world can learn any language for free. This IT course at TU brings him one step closer to his life goal. "Programming is my life's ambition," he says.

22-year-old Shinda Hassan was also forced to flee Syria because of the war. This high-school graduate also wants to get her foot in the door of IT here in Austria. For her, the programming course is the gateway to further education. She had her doubts at the start. "I had never thought that I would get into programming, or that I would be able to participate in this course, but the opportunity has inspired me to undertake further training," explains Hassan. Next, she plans to attend a technical college to focus on programming. She has a clear goal in mind. "I intend to earn a university degree in software development," she says.

Vienna, 26th April, 2019