Our 42 Berlin Learning Spaceship has landed!
Here’s What 2022 Has Looked Like So Far.
We have arrived at that time of the year when the leaves are starting to make their descent and we make more time to cosy up and consolidate all that has happened thus far.
Despite record-breaking heat, the summer saw the world burst back into action, and 42 Berlin has been no exception. While many of us have felt the joys of connection and freedom of movement once again, we do not forget the devastating and ongoing crisis in Ukraine and the humanitarian issues created by the unprecedented shifts in climate.
At 42 Berlin, we’ve been working away to ensure our roots are happily growing into the soil of our new Neukölln home. We’re thrilled to be building a new community of software engineers and our campus has already seen 450 Pisciners walk through the doors and become a part of the #NextGenerationEducation.
Here’s a quick look at some highlights from our universe:
Hit The Ground Running
The 42 Berlin Campus is blossoming into more of a home every day, thanks to our incredible Operations team who have put so much time and energy into making it a comfortable and safe space for students and staff. Our plans for the campus are extensive and we’re still setting some features into motion, but so many great features are very much up and running!
- Features ready & in use:
- Nap room
- Phone booths
- Shower
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Lounge
- Auditorium with state of the art event technology
- Outdoor terrace with dance floor
- Fourth Floor student work space with view of Berlin
- Features coming soon:
- Interactive Bear AI
- Yoga/prayer room
- Fully Functioning Lobby Space
- Meditation space
- Artwork
- Library
Check out our Campus before and after the first round of renovations:
As we settle into our new home, our team bonds are becoming stronger and we’re being happily productive from home and away. During a recent team trip to Amsterdam, we visited CODAM, a coding school following the 42 Network methodology, to take inspiration and learnings from a more established set-up. On home turf, we’ve been creative in the locations of our frequent team-building off-sites; taking to the water as well as travelling beyond Berlin. Our next one is set to take place in November.
Our Piscines — Fueling our Talent Pipeline
Before students officially start their studies with us, they must complete a Piscine, that is, a one-month selection test. The Piscines are intensive for students and staff alike, as they require all Pisciners to be on campus for an average of 60 hours per week.
We are very proud to say we have launched 3 successful Piscines since June and have already accepted 106 students from the June and August Piscines to start their official studies with us in November. The participants reflect the diversity we strive for, coming together from 56 different countries and ranging from 18 to 50 years old in age.
Jump Aboard our 42 Tech Train
The FabLab opened up shop on the 42 Berlin campus in August. Working together with our neighbours at Workish Berlin, the space has the mission of delving into different areas of tech, getting creative and having fun.
The FabLab has already received great interest from students and the first established projects have included: drone development, smart mirroring, and music-based coding. The planning of many more multi-disciplinary projects are already underway.
The Fablab also functions as host for the Makers Meet-up Sessions together with Workish Berlin. These meetings, exceeding 30 attendees, create a space to discuss the creative projects alive in our community. Members present their ideas and receive feedback in a way which models our educational method of peer evaluation.
The Berlin team is also busy building an AI Bear! State of the art visualisation will be integrated for the AI to recognize faces of visitors and converse with them. The shape and name of the AI is inspired by Berlin’s beloved furry mascot.
42 in the Limelight
42 Berlin is still at the beginning of its journey, but we’re honoured to appear within various publications and online platforms, both in Germany and worldwide. Please head to our website to find a comprehensive list of our press appearances.
- The Official Press Announcement of the opening of 42 Berlin
- 42 Berlin: Intercultural, interdisciplinary, interoperable
We are very proud to have also appeared at the top of various WURI rankings:
Some Special Moments
Our campus has not only been buzzing during coding hours, but a number of events have brought many different ideas and people together in our 42 Berlin space.
Some of these include:
42 Berlin was given a warm welcome into Neukölln’s Harzerkiez by the Mayor of Neukölln, Martin Hikel, at our June Press Conference. Representatives from our partner companies participated in a panel discussion, joined by one of the first 42 Berlin soon to be students. Many topics were covered here, including the reasons for tech companies’ enthusiasm in working with 42 students.
The Midnight Runners Club has hosted a series of 6km runs from our campus. These allowed students and staff to connect in a different way. Runners were congratulated with beers and music in the garden upon crossing the finish line.
42 Berlin hosted the 2022 Hauptstadt-Dialog WHU Launch Event, inviting representatives from the trisectoral network of WHU — Otto Beisheim School of Management and associated institutions to gain insights into new subject areas and current development trends and to discuss them across sectors.
Regular Fireside chats hosted by our CEO and Headmaster, Max Senges, saw individuals with inspirational and innovative ideas explore many topics to a live audience. Some of the most recent guests include: Kübra Gümüsay, an international thought leader, and Christian Busch, the author of “The Serendipity Mindset”.
Now let’s have a quick look at some upcoming events:
Our very first Algorave concert with Alexandra Cárdenas is taking place on Friday 18th November. A live coded-music performance will fill the majority of the evening, shining a light on the creative career paths available through code, as well as providing inspiration for non-male coders. RSVP to the performance here.
The Grand Opening of 42 Berlin will take place on 1st December. The campus will be officially inaugurated and we welcome in our first cohort of 150 students who will be officially beginning their studies with us. This is a day we are extremely excited about as it will mark the start of our official launch and
Aaaaand … that’s all for now! Let us close with a huge thanks to all of you for your continued support and enthusiasm. If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, you can unsubscribe here or forward this update to interested peers who might want to subscribe.
May the code be with you
The 42 Berlin Team
