Code for the future: Estonian IT education reaches Ukraine and Kenya with support from ESTDEV

Estonian programming school //kood opens admissions in two new countries, Ukraine and Kenya. This is an Estonian development cooperation initiative supported by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).

In both countries, //kood focuses on practical IT education for adults, aiming to equip participants with new skills and pave the way for a career in the technology sector. In Ukraine, Zhytomyr Polytechnic University is the project partner, and in Kenya, it is GreatWell Training College in Nairobi.

“These are just the first steps for //kood in Ukraine and Kenya. We want to grow in the future and offer programming education more widely in these countries,” said entrepreneur and //kood co-founder Taavet Hinrikus. “While in Estonia we created //kood to accelerate the training of IT talent, in these new target countries we are giving people the tools to shape their own future and strengthen their communities.”

In Ukraine, the project operates under the name kood/Zhytomyr, and the first cohort will train 100 students. Classes will be offered in a hybrid format (in-person and online) to ensure high-quality, continuous education for Ukrainians, who face daily logistical and security challenges due to the war. The city of Tallinn is also contributing to the project by donating computers and monitors to Zhytomyr Polytechnic University.

Last week, Ukrainian stakeholders from Zhytomyr visited Jõhvi and Tallinn to observe the kood/Jõhvi entrance process and meet with project partners from Tallinn City Government and ESTDEV. A photo gallery from the visit is available here.

“Ukraine remains our most important development cooperation partner. By supporting such projects, we help strengthen Ukraine’s technology education, especially the development of digital skills in vocational education, which are essential for nation-building,” said Margus Gering, ESTDEV’s head of Cooperation and Development for Ukraine. “Digital skills give people the opportunity to shape a better future for themselves, support job creation, and increase the resilience and sustainability of the entire society.”

In Kenya, kood/Nairobi will first organize a three-week programming camp, Selection Sprint. Those who successfully complete the camp will start a year-long distance learning programme in the autumn. Classes will take place on //kood’s cloud-based platform, which allows students to access high-quality education regardless of their place of residence.

“With this project, we are contributing to the development of Kenya’s IT expertise with the aim of aligning it with the rapidly changing requirements of the labour market. By helping to grow a competitive ICT workforce and the sector more broadly, we are creating opportunities for Kenyans to start businesses locally or work remotely for European employers, including Estonia,” said Katrin Winter, ESTDEV’s regional head for Africa.

//kood was founded in Jõhvi in 2021 to make technology education accessible to all. This September, learning centres will also be opened in Võru and Paide with support from the local governments. The study programme includes self-directed learning and group learning, and lasts 12–18 months. The curriculum covers both front- and back-end software development, problem solving and teamwork. In the final phase, students can specialise in various areas, including cybersecurity, mobile applications, data analysis and artificial intelligence.

To date, //kood has hosted six cohorts in Estonia, with a total of 1,100 students; over 300 have completed the programme. Nearly two-thirds of graduates work in the technology sector. There are students from at least 30 nationalities, with an average age of 28. Women make up 16% of the student body.

In 2025, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications recognized //kood as one of the top promoters of entrepreneurship in Estonia.