The Groundbreaking kood/Jõhvi Makes a Global Leap - Shattering Borders to Upskill Digital Talent in Ukraine and Kenya
Coding Education Unleashed: Expansion of Estonia's Coding School to Ukraine and Kenya
Dive into the electrifying expansion of Estonia's groundbreaking, teacher-less coding school, kood/Jõhvi, as it takes its game-changing self-directed model to two fresh lands: Ukraine and Kenya, in a bid to supercharge digital skills and spur the rise of a vibrant generation of tech magnates.
After making waves in the industrial northeastern town of Jõhvi, the trailblazing kood/Jõhvi, founded with the ethos "no teachers, no classes, but 100% coding," garnered widespread acclaim for its audacious approach to education. Nixing lectures, traditional exams, and even traditional instructors, the school prioritized students as the central figures in a peer-led, hands-on coding bootcamp.
Now, this disruptive blueprint is making its way onto the global stage. Blessed by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), kood is welcoming enrollees in not one but two up-and-coming countries: Ukraine and Kenya. This initiative is an integral part of Estonia's development cooperation strategy, providing real-world digital skills to adult learners, propelling them onto the global tech economy's main stage.
Taavet Hinrikus, co-founder of kood and of fintech titan Wise, noted, "In Estonia, we crafted kood to propel our tech talent forward. But in Ukraine and Kenya, we're arming individuals with the tools to shape their destinies and uplift their communities."
Journey from Ida-Virumaa to Zhytomyr
In Ukraine, the project will soar under the name kood/Zhytomyr, in alliance with Zhytomyr Polytechnic University. The first 100 pupils will embark on a hybrid learning journey, blending digital education with on-site sessions, due to the day-to-day strife and security challenges that continue to plague the region. The City of Tallinn has also lent a hand, offering computers and monitors to ensure learning continuity.
Margus Gering, ESTDEV's head of cooperation for Ukraine, voiced, "Ukraine remains our most significant development cooperation partner. By backing projects like this, we bolster Ukraine's digital skills ecosystem, especially its vocational education sphere - a vital aspect of nation-building."
Visitors from Ukraine recently traveled to Estonia to observe kood/Jõhvi's admission process, collaborating closely with city and ESTDEV officials. Their expedition mirrored a quote from the late Estonian president Lennart Meri: "The circumstances may be crap, but they're our fertilizer for the future."
Meanwhile, in Kenya, kood/Nairobi will forge ties with GreatWell Training College to host a three-week "Selection Sprint" program. Successful aspirants will embark on a year-long distance learning program, leveraging kood's cloud-based platform to access resources from anywhere.
Katrin Winter, ESTDEV's regional lead for Africa, stated, "We're aiding in developing Kenya's ICT know-how to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving job market. Whether students launch local ventures or work remotely for European firms, including those in Estonia, this investment will reap rewards."
Born from the Brainchild of the Startup Scene
The story of kood/Jõhvi unfolded with two vital epiphanies. Investor Marek Kiisa drew inspiration from Israel's accomplishments in setting up coding schools in occupied territories, coupled with his son's life-altering experience in an accelerated learning program. Kiisa proposed the concept to Martin Villig (Bolt) and Taavet Hinrikus, who eagerly joined forces.
With €2.3 million in backing from both private investors and the government, together with over 30 startup partners like Veriff, Pipedrive, and Bolt, the school commenced operations in Sillamae before relocating to its permanent home in Jõhvi.
The school boasts a tuition-free policy and welcomes anyone aged 18 or older with basic education and English skills. A majestic 80% of the workload is team-based, fostering an atmosphere where every scholar is both a learner and a teacher.
For some students, the freedom to self-direct is an exhilarating escape. For others, it may feel a bit daunting.
Despite the challenges, outcomes are looking hopeful, with over 300 individuals from the six cohorts graduating in Estonia so far. A whopping 60% have since joined the tech sector. The student body is a rich tapestry, spanning 30 nationalities, with an average age of 28, and featuring everything from divers and chefs to lawyers and recent high school graduates. Women fill 16% of the roster.
In 2025, Estonia's economic affairs ministry lauded kood as one of the nation's top pioneers of entrepreneurship. New campuses will debut this autumn in the Estonian towns of Paide and Võru, backed by municipal support.
As Estonia marches steadily towards tech titan status, kood's international expansion into Ukraine and Kenya transcends mere soft power play. Hinrikus remains optimistic, "We're not merely exporting a school model. We're exporting the conviction that anyone, anywhere, CAN learn to code – and transform their life."
Stay informed – stay inspired. Keep an eye on this groundbreaking journey as kood forges ahead!
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- The innovative coding school, kood/Jõhvi, expanding beyond Estonia to Ukraine and Kenya, aims to seed digital skills and nurture a new generation of tech entrepreneurs worldwide.
- In Ukraine, kood/Zhytomyr will collaborate with Zhytomyr Polytechnic University, offering a hybrid learning experience due to regional security challenges, with support from the City of Tallinn in terms of computer and monitor provision.
- In Kenya, kood/Nairobi will team up with GreatWell Training College, hosting a "Selection Sprint" program followed by a year-long distance learning course using kood's cloud-based platform.
- Taavet Hinrikus, co-founder of kood and Wise, asserts that this global expansion equips individuals with the tools to shape their futures and elevate their communities, following the example set by Estonia's tech success.
- Estonia's development cooperation strategy anticipates that this initiative will substantially contribute to enhancing Ukraine and Kenya's digital skills ecosystems, boosting both nations' economies and cultures.
- As part of its mission to foster education and self-development, kood emphasizes the importance of knowledge transfer and collaboration in its unique learning model, where students teach others in a team-oriented atmosphere.
