87 graduates and 10 nationalities: kood/Jõhvi’s fifth batch reflects the growing reach of practical technology education

Last Friday, kood/Jõhvi’s fifth batch graduated with 87 students representing ten different nationalities, including a winner of science show “Rakett 69.” The largest number of graduates come from Harju and Tartu counties, but participants joined the programme from across Estonia. Nearly half of the graduates have already entered the job market.

“87 graduates from the fifth batch show that practical technology education continues to have a strong place in Estonia. When people come to study with a clear goal and make it to graduation, it reflects both the appeal of the field and the growing importance of technology skills,” said Kätlin Merisalu, Head of Learning Centres at //kood.

Most graduates are aged 28–32, but the batch also includes younger students as well as those over 40. While the majority come from Harju and Tartu counties, students have participated from all over Estonia, including Ida-Viru County (home of kood/Jõhvi), Järva County, Pärnu County, and several smaller regions.

Among the new graduates are people from Ukraine, Italy, Nigeria, Egypt, Switzerland, Venezuela, Pakistan, and Armenia, demonstrating that the technology school in Jõhvi has become an important hub attracting both local and international learners.

“The fifth batch clearly shows that learning programming is not only a path for those coming straight from school. Our graduates include people of different ages, with diverse professional and life experiences, as well as those who have made a conscious career change. This is a positive sign for both Ida-Viru County and the wider Estonian labor market, as the need for technological skills is not going anywhere,” added Merisalu.

Graduate Thorny Valk (30), who now works as a junior software developer at the international software company Nortal, transitioned into IT from the construction sector. According to him, the decision to start studying was driven by a desire for change. “I felt that I wanted to create something myself, and kood/Jõhvi gave me the technical knowledge and information-seeking skills to do that,” said Valk, who is also the winner of the fourth season of the science show “Rakett 69.”

Hanna Paaver (26), who previously studied architecture, now works on the //kood curriculum development team. “The ability to search for information and truly understand it has been especially valuable, and I’ve learned an incredible amount about problem-solving here,” she said. According to Paaver, the value of the learning journey went far beyond programming skills – it also included building connections and gaining access to various opportunities.

kood/Jõhvi’s fifth cohort graduates at a time when employers’ expectations for technology skills are increasing, even outside traditional developer roles. As a result, practical programming education is becoming increasingly important not only for those starting a career in IT, but also for those who want to better understand technology and apply it more broadly in their work.

The next Selection Sprint (admissions testing) will take place from June 1–19 in Jõhvi, Võru, and Paide. No prior experience or exam results are required to apply.

//kood was founded in Jõhvi, Estonia in 2021, with the aim of making technology education accessible to everyone and address the software developers shortage. From 2025, students can study in Jõhvi, Võru and Paide. Its 12–15 month curriculum is based on 100% practical, self-directed and peer-to-peer learning, covering full-stack software development, teamwork and problem solving. Students can later specialise in fields such as cybersecurity, mobile applications, or AI.

//kood has welcomed more than 1,300 students in Estonia with close to 500 graduates – half of whom are now working in the technology sector. Students represent over 30 different nationalities, 21% are women and the average age is 29. You can find the //kood peer-to-peer learning method and curriculum also in Finland, Ukraine and Kenya.

In 2025, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications recognised //kood as one of the best entrepreneurship promoters in the country.

The accessibility of IT education is supported by Skaala, Swedbank, Kaamos, LHV, SEB, Barrus and others.