RMIT: RMIT Online launches expanded iOS app development course

The RMIT Online iOS App Development with Swift course, created in partnership with Concentrix Tigerspike and Accenture, is based on curriculum designed by Apple engineers and educators and offers an enhanced online program with one-to-one mentorship by industry leaders.

Since launching its Swift program in 2017, RMIT Online has confirmed 1,800 enrolments in the course.

RMIT Online’s recent report, Ready, Set, Upskill – Effective Training for the Jobs of Tomorrow, found that more than half of Australians surveyed have little to no understanding of coding.

Addressing the digital skills shortage in all areas, including programming/coding and app development, is imperative for the Australian economic recovery from COVID-19, and a failure to rise to the challenge could jeopardise $10 billion growth in the technology, media and communications industries alone by 2025.

Since the launch of the App Store in 2008, the iOS app ecosystem has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the world’s economy and a rich source of opportunity for established or aspiring developers, connecting their great ideas with a global audience.

Facilitating over half a trillion dollars in commerce in 2019 alone, the App Store is home to 1.8 million apps and visited by half a billion people each week.

Apple’s vibrant community of developers has now earned more than US$200 billion to date through the sale of digital goods and services in 175 markets around the world.
Helen Souness, CEO at RMIT Online, said to unlock productivity gains and stimulate the growth of new jobs, alternative ways of educating people beyond a physical classroom must be ilooked at.

“We’re excited to be announcing this revamped curriculum today, which paves the way for students to bring more creativity and problem solving to their experience with RMIT Online,” she said.
“We believe this curriculum can teach anyone to code and can be done in an accessible way through expert content, collaboration, and interaction with leading industry mentors from Concentrix Tigerspike and Accenture.”

David Sutherland, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Concentrix Tigerspike said that in today’s increasingly app-driven world, developers are uniquely positioned to help shape Australia and the world’s economic agenda.

“Courses like this are critical to help Australian organisations match passionate people with the right resources needed to help bring their ideas to life, particularly as the mobile development ecosystem continues to evolve,” he said.

Scott Hahn, Accenture Technology Lead for Australia & New Zealand said in a business environment where app development is crucial to organisations across our economy, it’s vital that Australia’s workforce can develop apps for iOS.

“In partnering with RMIT Online for this course we are building the skills and capability in the Australian workforce for the new economy,” he said.