FILE PHOTO: Customers walk past an Apple logo inside of an Apple store.
Credit: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
For long, Apple has advocated for the importance of computer science education for young kids. By helping them learn coding early in their life, they gain an edge over the others in terms of getting a job or starting their own company.
Since the early 2010s, several young developers who created apps just out of curiosity have gone on to build big technology companies. In the age of smartphones, there are a lot of opportunities to build apps to make a successful career out of it.
Every year, Apple invites children worldwide to apply for Swift Student Challenge and showcase their coding skills. Winners get the opportunity to connect with Apple's engineers.
Further, they receive a one-year membership in the Apple Developer Programme, which enables them to submit apps to the App Store and receive support from Apple.
In India, Apple works with select educational institutions in India under Apple's Distinguished Schools (ADS), offering students the access to latest software development tools, iPads and Macs to create innovative software programmes that has the potential to solve global problems.
To mark Computer Science Week, Apple added eight new institutions including Mount Litera (Mumbai) and Trio World Academy (Bengaluru) to its ADS roster.
At Apple Distinguished Schools, students get access Apple devices and software to learn coding at a young age.
Credit: Apple
"Becoming an Apple Distinguished School has truly transformed our approach to teaching and learning at Mount Litera School International. During Coding Week, for example, our students collaborated on creating innovative apps and games, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills. One memorable moment was when a group of Grade 9 and 10 students designed a prototype app to promote mental wellbeing, integrating coding with empathy and critical thinking," said Priya Anand, Head of School, Mount Litera, Mumbai.
"Our teachers, empowered by Apple professional learning resources and using Swift Playgrounds, led hands-on sessions, making coding accessible and inclusive for every learner. These experiences exemplify how Apple helps us inspire innovation and celebrate milestones that shape future leaders,” Priya added.
Students using iPads and Apple Pencil to learn coding at Apple Distinguished School.
Credit: Apple
"Our journey to becoming an Apple Distinguished School has been nothing short of transformative. We’ve reimagined what learning looks like. It’s more than just about integrating technology—it’s about creating an environment where students can explore and innovate, and where teachers are empowered. Events like Code Week bring this vision to life. Teachers lead this initiative using Apple’s professional learning resources and enable students to use tools like Swift Playgrounds to solve real-world problems and inculcate skills of collaboration and creativity,"said Vinod Singh, Head of School, Trio World Academy, Bengaluru.
"We believe that together with Apple, we’re building a community of thinkers, dreamers, and doers who will shape the world,” Singh noted.
Apple also helps budding iOS app developer startups and companies in India. The company has set up Apple Developer Center (previously App Accelerator) in Bengaluru.
Since its start in 2017, Developer Center has nurtured hundreds of budding entrepreneurs and talented students in India.
It offers access to Apple experts and support to learn about the latest Apple technologies and resources to refine their apps and games in terms of user interface design and, services to improve user experience.
One of best success stories is the SplasLearn, developed by StudyPad. It is founded by four friends -- Arpit Jain (CEO), Umang Jain (CPTO), Mayank Jain (CMO) and Joy Deep Nath (CXO), who graduated from IIT-Kharagpur in 2008.
SplashLearn is intuitive iPad application for children and teachers. It offers gamified educational content for children aged 2-12 (Pre-kindergarten to Grade 5).
Currently, it is offering content for Maths and English learning. Since its start in 2011, it has grown big, particularly in the US. Now, Splash Learn is used by one in three schools in the US. It is also available for parents for a subscription.
Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech