Apple, in collaboration with Università di Napoli Federico II, is to open Europe’s first iOS Developer Academy at the university.

The iOS Developer Academy will officially open in October 2016 with more than 200 students taking part in the first year and more to follow in the years ahead. Students will take part in a nine-month curriculum designed and supported by Apple, with a dedicated facility at the new Campus in San Giovanni a Teduccio. The facility includes labs, and access to the latest Apple hardware and software.

During the first term, courses will enhance and improve students’ software development skills on iOS. During the second term, students will attend courses on the creation of startups and app design, and collaborate on the creation of apps that could eventually make it into the App Store.

The plan to create a specialised iOS Developer Academy in Naples, Italy, was announced in January by Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, and Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi to help boost the number of trained app developers in Italy and Europe. The program is free and will be open to students in Italy and across Europe, with scholarships available to some students to cover living expenses.

“We are thrilled to be working with Universita di Napoli Federico II to launch the first iOS Developer Academy in Europe,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s CFO. “Some of the most creative developers in the world come from Europe, and we are confident this centre will help the next generation get the skills they need for success.”

Students wishing to find out more or apply should head here. Applicants will be asked to take an online test in Italian or English, with successful candidates moving to an interview stage. Applicants do not need to be specifically trained in information technologies, as the course is designed to support a diverse mix of future developers across a range of fields.

The university is also seeking to recruit teachers for the Academy in the coming months, including experienced app developers, designers and academics. Teachers wishing to apply should head for the same site.