42 Zurich Opens New Educational Campus

(CONNECT) The nonprofit educational institute 42 Zurich is opening its campus at Spaces Z.One in Oerlikon. According to a press release, IT professionals specializing in software development and AI systems will be trained there starting in January 2027. The training program lasts 12 to 24 months and covers the fundamentals of IT in programming and systems, an internship at participating companies, and the architecture of autonomous systems.

In the age of artificial intelligence, understanding the systems behind it is becoming one of the most important skills for the future, says Cristina Bucher, CEO of 42 Zurich. She expects around 100 to 150 students to gain access to tech careers here, regardless of their previous educational background. “With 42 Zürich, we give opportunities to people who are often overlooked by the traditional education system: career changers, motivated tech-savvy individuals without a high school diploma, and people working in the care sector.”

According to Marc Oehler, CEO of cloud provider Infomaniak, the business world needs IT professionals to drive the development of its own technologies. "We have been collaborating with various Swiss universities for several years. "This has strengthened our confidence in Campus 42 Lausanne's ability to educate students with skills that complement those taught at universities—with a more practice-oriented curriculum."

According to the announcement, learning takes place through real-world projects, in collaboration with like-minded peers, through self-directed progress, and using a gamification approach in which students support one another and build their knowledge through projects. Students choose their own specializations. AI is firmly embedded in the curriculum. Those who still wish to pursue a formal qualification can, depending on their qualifications, earn a Swiss professional certificate or an RNCP certificate.

Cyrill Schuler, CEO of IWG Switzerland, Monaco & Gibraltar - Spaces Z.One, welcomes the arrival of 42 Zurich. “Together, we’ve done more than just create a workspace for students; we’ve laid the groundwork for 42 Zürich’s mission to come to life.”

The Concept 42 originated in France. The network now has over 50 locations in 30 countries. In Switzerland, Zurich is the second campus after Lausanne. The selection process begins on September 14. ce/heg