A Full Stack developer is a person who knows the whole range of the modern web world: back-end systems, designing browser applications and user interfaces while understanding the business logic behind the implementation.
The primary aim of the training program was to support raising the employment rate in Southwest Finland and to respond to the shortage of professionals by training Full Stack developers for the needs of the IT-companies. Training program was non-degree education targeted to people with existing programming knowledge living in Southwest Finland that were either unemployed or under a threat of unemployment.
The training met the needs of the labour market and built new expertise on top of earlier knowledge to help future employment. The participants were connected to local IT-companies during the program which helps both the employer and job seeker when open vacancies are filled in the region.
Training emphasised practical exercises and development of programming and working life skills. During the training effort was be put on face-to-face education and student counselling. In addition, distance learning methods, video lectures and flipped learning were be used to ensure flexibility of the teaching.
The key partners for the training were the companies in the region. The participation of companies ensured the timeliness of the training through visiting lectures and company visits. In addition, companies were being asked to provide practical Capstone projects.
The FullStack II -training was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture’s special fund for year 2020. The aim of the funding was to develop continuous training, support employment and respond to a shortage of experts with fast-acting measures.
Four instances of the training were organised within years 2019 – 2022.
Training had three parts
1/3 Refresher and Basic courses
- Refresher course in programming
- Basic course on software engineering
- Job search skills
2/3 Full stack -techniques
- Frontend development
- Backend development
- Capstone project; team forming and starting up
3/3 Capstone project
- Capstone project: 6 iterations x 2 weeks
- Ending the training