FREMONT, MAY 17TH 2016 42: REVOLUTIONARY CODING UNIVERSITY FREE, NON-PROFIT AND OPEN TO ALL The United States has always been the country of freedom, entrepreneurship and innovation. Thanks to their open mind, they allow for different solutions and innovative thought, notably regarding education. But studies in the United States are very expensive, blocking the way for many individuals to receive an education, find a well paid job and live the American dream. Indeed, according to the New York Federal Reserve, the total of student loans, as of the end of 2014, amounts to 1,160 billion dollars (6.6% of the United States GDP), which is more than the total American credit card debt. Moreover, the United States faces today the challenge to close US Tech talent gap ( TechHire Initiative ). With this in mind, 42 is launched today in the United States after its huge success in France. With its unique pedagogical approach and accessibility to all, completely free of charge (no hidden fees), 42 is the most daring response yet to the challenge of information technology skill development, as well as a source of innovation for the future. 42 will grow to 10,000 students within the next 5 years. This will allow for the training of IT talents in large numbers. Big publicly traded tech companies of the Silicon Valley like Facebook, Google, and LinkedIn regularly pay new hires out of elite universities a salary of between $100,000 and $150,000 (Business Insider). We are always looking for great engineers from any background and any education like 42. - Jack Dorsey, Co-Founder and CEO of Twitter Campus s view in 42 US 1 / 5 Stock photo - Credits: AR Architectures - www.ar.fr
42, THE EFFICIENT ANSWER TO AN EXPENSIVE EDUCATION SYSTEM The United States is the leading economic power in the world and the sixth in terms of digital economy (source: The Boston Consulting Group). According to the Department of Education, approximately 40 million Americans have contracted a student loan for an average of $30,000. That s due to the increase of tuition costs (+440% in 25 years / +1,225% since 1978). Almost three quarters of all graduates have had to contract a loan (Forbes magazine). Only 10% of the students of the 146 best universities come from the lower-middle class (OECD) Children of well-off families are disproportionately likely to stay well off and children of poor families are very likely to remain poor (The Hamilton project). High School graduation rates remain at about 60% for racial and ethnic minorities, compared to 83% for White students (Racial Discrimination within the U.S. Educational System - For Review of U.S. Compliance with CERD August 2014) 42 is allowing more people to have opportunity. - Leila Janah, Co-Founder and CEO of Sama INNOVATIVE TEACHING METHODS IN TECHNOLOGY TRAINING: PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING The 42 teaching method is innovative in many ways. It represents a new step in the implementation of the principles of open education successfully developed over 20 years in France. 42 goes further, in fact, by developing a system of self-education: Peer 2 Peer learning. This is a type of participatory learning that allows students to unleash their creativity through project-based learning. Since its creation in France in 2013, 42 has received more than 200,000 applications and welcomes today 2,500 students. 42 trains the students to be brilliant problem s solvers not just coders. - Karlie Kloss, Founder of Kode with Klossy Credits: William Beaucardet Cluster s view in 42 France 2 / 5
TRAINING THAT IS FREE, OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL 42 s mission is to undercover the talents of their generation in the field of programming and to do so on a broad scale. To achieve this, 42 would like to give all young people an opportunity. Students are selected neither on the basis of financial ability nor educational degree, but solely on the basis of their talent and motivation. By employing this new educational approach, 42 applies neither the academic nor the financial criteria that prevent too many of today s young people from achieving success. In this non-profit organization, no registration and tuition fees will be required before, during or even after attending 42. Registration on Online tests from 2016, May 17th Selection Piscine summer 2016 Start of the university year in 2016 November Anyone, as long as you have the merit, the motivation and the skills, you can come to 42 regardless the amount of money you have. - Tony Fadell, Founder and CEO of Nest THE BEST INFRASTRUCTURE IN ONE PLACE FOR THE BEST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TRAINING 42 offers its students the very best in terms of IT resources in order to make it possible for them to work in the best conditions, regardless of the personal resources available to them elsewhere. Featuring a space of approximately 200,000 sq ft, 42 is located in the Silicon Valley, at Fremont, CA in a building designed to promote this innovative teaching method. This would not have been possible without the support of the City of Fremont, CA. Open 24/7, it offers the students a friendly environment, with collaborative spaces that are both pleasant and functional. 42 would help the most disadvantaged students with 300 spaces in the dormitories which are completely free of cost. 42 is working to increase this capacity to 600. The most modern equipment will be at the students disposal: a computing infrastructure comprising of more than one thousand top-of-the-line imac computers, connected to a very high-speed broadband network, large capacity storage servers, and the very best in technology. 42 is a school from the future. - Evan Spiegel, Co-Founder and CEO of Snapchat 3 / 5
42 offers an ideal environment that allows for talent to thrive. Florian Bucher, Xavier Niel, Nicolas Sadirac and Kwame Yamgnane came together to create this Non-Profit university unlike any other, after the success in France. Xavier Niel funded it with $100 million of his personal fortune and 42 US will be managed by Brittany Bir and Kwame Yamgnane. Stock photo - Credits: AR Architectures - www.ar.fr Cluster s view Video : http:// More information and registration at Press contact: press@42.us.org 4 / 5
ABOUT XAVIER NIEL Chairman Xavier Niel is the founder and major shareholder of the Iliad Group which owns the leading French convergent telecom operator Free that launched the first multi-services box providing households with access to a triple play offering, called the Freebox, and the Free mobile operator (3G/4G). For many years Xavier has invested in the telecommunications sector throughout the world. He finances more than 150 startups worlwide per year. He co-holds an ownership interest in the Le Monde newspaper, and in other medias. In 2013, Xavier Niel co-founded 42 in Paris. He announced the opening in early 2017 of the world s largest digital incubator which will stand on a 350,000 sq ft lot, in the heart of Paris. ABOUT BRITTANY BIR COO Brittany Bir grew up in Temecula, California. She earned a bachelor s degree in Spanish with a minor in Global Studies from California State University, Monterey Bay before completing a master s degree in European Studies at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris, France. Simultaneously working as an English conversational professor and administrative assistant in The Paris Graduate School of Digital Innovation, she discovered a passion for coding. Immediately intrigued by 42 s innovative pedagogy, she completed the 42 program along with the first incoming graduation class in Paris, France. ABOUT KWAME YAMGNANE Managing Director Before launching 42 in France with Xavier Niel, Kwame participated in the creation of one the largest computer schools in France, and has led a career completely dedicated to IT both as an entrepreneur and within major companies. His background and his empathetic nature has led him to develop a strong social fiber. He is especially involved with underprivileged young adults in education regarding computer programming. 5 / 5