Andela announces partnership with CNCF to train 20,000+ technologists
Andela, a global marketplace for senior software engineers, has announced a significant partnership with the CNCF to train 20,000-30,000 technologists in cloud native technologies over multiple years.
The initiative is particularly significant as 90% of Andela's clients specifically request Kubernetes experience, demonstrating the growing demand for cloud native expertise in the global market.
Building on their impressive track record of upskilling 100,000+ technologists in Africa over the past decade, Andela will launch this program in early 2024 with a community-driven approach, offering KCNA and CKAD certifications, regular meetups, and peer-to-peer support systems, primarily focusing on emerging markets like Kenya and Nigeria.
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Transcription
Bart: First things first, can you say who you are, what you do, and where you work, specifically at Andela?
Ross: My name is Ross O'Neill. I'm the Senior Manager for our Talent Learning Team at Andela.
Bart: Very good. And for folks who might not be familiar with Andela, what does Andela do?
Ross: Andela is a private marketplace where we connect clients with senior software engineers, developers from around the world. We have over 150,000 technologists across 135 countries.
Bart: And today, you're here to announce a new partnership with the CNCF. Tell me more about that.
Ross: We have a long legacy at Andela of investing in upskilling opportunities for technologists, primarily based in Africa. We're partnering with CNCF to build on that legacy. We're going to train around 20,000 to 30,000 over a multi-year partnership in KCNA, CKAD, and possibly more throughout the next few years.
Bart: That's great news. Sometimes people might have the impression that we often look at the United States, Europe, and APAC, but there are lots of cloud native technologies things going on in other parts of the world. Tell me more about the discovery process of realizing that there is talent in these different countries and guiding them towards the cloud native technologies experience. What has that process been like?
Ross: The process has been super interesting, super exciting. One thing, in terms of our clients, we found that 90% of our clients that we work with have requested Kubernetes experience specifically in cloud native technologies in their roles, in their job descriptions for the senior software engineers and developers that we're connecting them with. And we know CNCF knows that we have upskilled over 100,000 technologists in Africa over the last 10 years. Andela was founded in Africa, and we have a long legacy of reinvesting in our talent base there. So we want to make a very competitive workforce. We want to upskill in emerging technologies and frameworks and really be a leader in that space for African talent.
Bart: In terms of the countries where you're operating, is it all over Africa or more regionally specific? Can you give me some more insight about that, possibly in relation to Andela?
Ross: We can give you more insight into our services. Technically, we are a global company, completely borderless, and can help engineering managers or CTOs find the right talent for their roles quickly and easily. We have a specific approach to connecting talent with clients, called adaptive hiring, which is an agile and quick process compared to traditional recruitment methods. This process includes assessment, technical interviews, and English proficiency tests. We act as a strategic partner with our clients to ensure they find the right talent for their current and future needs, which may include expertise in Cloud native technologies. Our main markets are currently Kenya and Nigeria, but we are growing and expanding into many different markets and territories worldwide, and we also have an Andela Learning Community to support this growth. For more information about us, you can visit our main website at Andela.
Bart: That's great to hear. We have this announcement now. What can we expect in the following months? What's next for you?
Ross: So we're announcing it now, but in Q1 to Q2, or H1, we're going to launch a Kubernetes program for African talent to join. It will be across KCNA and CKAD, and will take a very community-driven approach. We'll be hosting lots of meetups, learning milestones, and peer-to-peer support. One of the benefits is that we have the Andela Learning Community, which focuses on these cloud native technologies. By joining this community, individuals will not only join the Andela community but also become part of a broader community that participates in events like KubeDays, KubeCon, and online meetups, all in partnership with CNCF and Linux.
Bart: If people want to get in touch with you, what's the best way to do so?
Ross: [email protected] is the easiest, but you can get in touch with Andela directly. I always want to connect with multitudes of different companies that have training, learning opportunities. If you have a curriculum where you're trying to upskill software engineers and developers, I want to speak to you about that. We're a very brilliant bridge to talent, particularly in emerging markets, and have an Andela Learning Community, and are involved in Cloud native technologies.