What are Coding Bootcamps?

Defining the problem

The demand for developers in Hong Kong is ever-increasing, partly due to rapid technology improvements and growth in the tech ecosystems (60%+ growth in start-ups and small internet businesses in 2016). Larger tech companies need skilled IT professionals to upgrade their systems to the current frameworks to ensure better security and usability for their systems while budding entrepreneurs need quality talent to build the infrastructure for their business needs and services.

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Unfortunately, the usual higher education establishments and universities cannot supply enough professionals to cover the demand and employers are left with a huge problem filling up their teams with the right candidates. Taking a Computer Science degree from a university will take you anywhere between 3 to 5 years and costs between HK$90,000-HK$265,000 per year. Four years later you'd have graduated with theoretical skills and minimal project experience required in a practical development environment.

Read Also: University Degree OR Bootcamp: Which one to choose?

So what is a coding bootcamp, really?

A coding bootcamp is typically a 21-week intensive programming crash course that provides students with a developer mindset, engineering skills, design ability and the programming tools to succeed as software engineers, at a much more affordable price both financially and time. They have been growing increasingly popular over the past couple of years especially in high-tech environments such as the U.S. Bootcamps teach fundamental tools like HTML/CSS, version control tools like Git, Javascript and a backend programming language like NodeJS or Ruby.

Upon completion of a coding bootcamp, graduates can typically expect to land a development job within 1 month due to the high demand of the industry with an average salary increase of 38% and a higher job satisfaction. Additionally, graduates from these bootcamps statistically make a higher salary than traditional university graduates due to having more relevant practical knowledge. In the industry, the source of education matters less than the ability to write good code.

Bootcamp vs Bachelor Degree

IT coding bootcamps have gained popularity overseas and have recently emerged in Hong Kong, offered by various institutions with industry experts. So what are the differences between pursuing a bachelor degree and a bootcamp programme?

1. Study Duration

• Degree: It typically takes around three to four years to complete.
• Bootcamp programme: Generally, it can be completed within six to twenty-one weeks.

2. Academic Focus vs Practicality

• Degree: It emphasizes academic knowledge, covering a broad range of subjects such as computing, computer science, UX/UI design, and more. The curriculum includes theoretical topics, providing comprehensive knowledge to become a well-rounded IT professional.
• Bootcamp programme: It focuses on practicality, tailoring the curriculum to meet current industry demands. It emphasizes software-driven projects and teaches relevant software skills like Java, JavaScript, AWS, GitLAB, and APIs. Although the content may not be as extensive, it allows individuals to enter or transition into the IT field quickly, providing excellent value for money.

3. Admission Requirements

• Degree: It requires a foundation of academic achievements, typically through examination systems or pathways such as diplomas or associate degrees (e.g., HKDSE/IB/GCE/Higher Diploma/Associate Degree).
• Bootcamp programme: It is open to individuals with no prior IT experience, including those with non-technical backgrounds, making it accessible to even humanities students.

Summary:
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*Source: Various local universities and bootcamp course providers

Xccelerate HK is a coding Bootcamp in Hong Kong providing both immersive full-time bootcamps and part-time courses that use a proven flipped-classroom approach to transform the careers of promising candidates into successful software engineers. Our education is driven by problem-based learning, industry-focused training, immersion and real-world simulation. As an outcome-driven EdTech in Hong Kong, we are successfully transforming careers of our graduates by working with 30+ hiring partners (top start-ups, web dev agencies etc.) on capstone projects and hiring to bridge the gap between tech demand and tech talent. Are you ready to be a coding expert? Check out our full-time immersive bootcamps and get started soon!

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