The effectiveness of the Apple Developer Academy training provided in Detroit has been called into question, alongside the value for money it offers.
A previously unreported funding breakdown shows that although Apple made the largest contribution to the program, more than half as much comes from Michigan taxpayers …
The Apple Developer Academy in Detroit
The Apple Developer Academy in Detroit was the first to open in the United States after previously launching in Brazil and Italy. It was introduced as part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, a program created to combat racism and create opportunities for “communities of color across the country.”
The 10-month program provides training on software development and app design for iOS, macOS, and other Apple platforms. Training materials cover the Swift programming language, interface prototyping, and business skills. Some students are invited to attend for a second year.
It was of course known that Apple was a major sponsor, but the exact breakdown of expenses and contributions hasn’t previously been reported.
Taxpayers contributed half as much as Apple
A Wired report suggests that Apple paid just under 40% of the $29.6 million total cost over the four years in which the academy has been operating.
Previously unreported funding records for the academy’s first four years show Apple contributed about $11.6 million. Gifts from the foundation and the university’s credit union accounted for over $9.4 million. Nearly $2.6 million came from the state and non-academy students’ tuition. An additional $6 million from the state, effectively from taxpayers, helped cover the cost of living checks.
Effectiveness and value questioned
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