Impact Report 2023
Celebrating five years
of innovative software
engineering education1Introduction
Codam is reshaping software engineering education for the needs of today’sworkforce. Our project-based, peer learning model equips students withtechnical proficiency but also unique soft skills, a valuable mix that outweighs
traditional degrees.
Providing educational excellence is at the heart of our mission, just as
fostering a more diverse talent force is.
Five years on, we see evidence of our mission’s success. Companies
consistently praise Codam graduates as technically adept, outstanding
collaborators who seamlessly integrate into new teams. With 29% female
or non-binary students, we are ahead of the curve when it comes togender representation.
In this Impact Report, we share compelling results, sometimes benchmarked
against data from traditional educational institutions as reference. While ourimpact can be measured in data, we believe that it extends beyond data.
We can recount many student journeys that disclose how transformative theCodam experience was. As students work through the curriculum, side byside with their peers, they grow in confidence to finally emerge as proficient,adaptable, empathetic professionals primed to succeed in their work-life.

#include “codam.h”
int main() {codam_quote(		“Innovative Tech Education”);
return 0;}
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contents

33
34
35#include “codam.h”

3637

int main() {codam_quote_title(3839		“From student to confident

40		software engineer”

41);

42

codam_quote(Introduction

3

Foreword

7

1. About Codam

11

1.1 Milestones
2. Codam students

1216

2.1 Diversity & inclusion

19

2.2 Satisfied students

25

2.3 Student clubs

27

43		“It’s amazing to see our students not44		

only grow into skilled software45		

engineers but also confident

3.1 Industry-ready

31

46		

individuals, leaving our school with

3.2 Transformative education

31

47		

smiles and a straight back,3.2 Getting ready for professional life

33

48		

ready to navigate the job market with49		

pride and resilience.”

50);

51

codam_quote_author(

52		“~ Roos Peters, Co-Director at Codam”

3. Practice-based education

4. A bright future30

37

4.1 Where Codam alumni work38

4.2 High employment satisfaction

41

5. Scaling impact4453);

5.1 Financial accountability

4554

return 0;

5.2 Donations

45

6. Future of education

49

55

{

5657
58596061
462
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5Foreword
When I founded Codam, my vision was crystal clear: to disrupt education byoffering a high-quality alternative for those who don’t fit into traditional systems.
At Codam, we embrace diversity as it fosters creativity, curiosity, and ultimately,
confidence among our students.
In today’s fast-evolving job market, specialized skills and soft skills areindispensable for success. That’s why Codam’s curriculum is meticulously crafted
to equip students with the necessary tools to excel in this dynamic landscape.
Over the past five years, witnessing the remarkable transformation of ourstudents has been truly inspiring. Seeing them blossom and confidently step
into the professional world is the ultimate reward for me as an educator.
Moreover, the sheer joy I witness from parents on graduation day, who may havefelt helpless at times, as they see their children empowered by Codam, fills mewith immense gratitude. As a philanthropist, knowing that Codam has positively
impacted numerous lives is profoundly fulfilling.
However, this is just the beginning of our journey. Codam is proud to be partof the 42 Network, a global community comprising 54 campuses across
31 countries, serving over 20,000 students. Our recognition as one of the top
coding education institutions worldwide speaks volumes about our dedication
to excellence.
There’s still much to accomplish, and I am eagerly looking forward to continuing
this journey of transforming education and empowering individuals.

Warm regards,

Corinne Vigreux
Founder Codam and co-founder
TomTom67

1. ABOUT CODAM

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1. About Codam
We founded Codam in 2018 with a clear goal: to equip the next generation
for both today’s jobs and tomorrow’s opportunities.
Our mission is to provide cutting-edge software engineering education toeveryone who possesses the motivation, determination, and eagerness
to learn.
We believe that the opportunity to unlock one’s full potential should beuniversal, transcending backgrounds and financial barriers.
The fundamentals of our educational approach:
9 2 year full-time Curriculum
9 Project Based
9 Peer Learning
9 No tuition fee
9 No prior education required

Codam’s learning model works!

100+

4.6/5

OurCompanies whoRating companies

Net Promoter

hired Codamgive our

Score by students

students andstudents’ overall

graduates

performance

80

1011

1.1 Milestones

2022

Codam has celebrated many highlights.

2018

2020

9 Refurbishing to astate-of-the-art campus
9 220 participants in the first
Selection Piscines
9 1st generation of students
enrolled

9 37% female students
9 1000th participant
in Selection Piscine

9 Winner ‘Omarm Prijs’

9 Codam’s Assistance
Programme aided350+ people

9 43K student scholarship donation by Adyen
9 600th student welcomed

9 1st Graduation Ceremony
9 Accreditation by NRTO
9 Organised Tech4Good
Conference & Hackathon

9 Winner Computable
Award Best Education
Project
9 100th company hired
a Codam student
9 Partnership with AHKand AMS*

9 Official opening by Queen Máxima

2021

2023

9 1st student internship9 1st Female focused Open Day

2019
12

* AHK: Amsterdam University of the Arts,
AMS: Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions13

2. Codam Students1415

2. Codam Students

Countries of origin

Our student data show remarkable diversity on multiple levels. This diversity
in backgrounds leads to more creative, problem-solving approaches.
The power of diversity has also set the right conditions for a close andinclusive community where students feel that they belong.

The majority of Codam students hail from The Netherlands. Among thestudents originating from outside the EU, we have welcomed refugees fromcountries such as Ukraine, Syria and Iran.

Over the last five years we’ve had:

{2050} Selection Piscine participants and {154} graduates.

27%
EuropeIn 2024, the Codam community composition looks like this:57%

400 Students
29%

15%Female ornon-binary

Non-westernmigration background

TheNetherlands

266%

Average age

Americas3%6%1% Asia
AfricaMiddle East

Prior education
The range of prior education of our students is very broad. It varies fromno basic qualification to holding a PhD degree.

1610%

33%

VMBO & secondary
school dropout

HAVO & VWO

8%
MBO &Associate Degree

30%

1%

18%

Bachelor &Master Degree

PhD

Other17#include “codam.h”

2.1 Diversity & inclusion

int main() {Embracing diversity and inclusion means that we actively build and facilitate
an inclusive learning environment for everyone from all walks of life.

codam_quote_title(		“You can be you”);
codam_quote(		“It makes a big difference that everyone		

at Codam - both men and women - treats each		

other with respect and that your voice is		heard.”);
codam_quote_author((		“~ Michelle, Codam student”

Female representation
With 29% female or non-binary students, Codam is 10 years ahead*from traditional IT education when it comes to a more balanced gender
representation.
Why do we appeal more?
9 We organise dedicated female focused Open Days
9 Our students have female role models
9 Female voices are heard
9 Fostering a female friendly community is part of our mission);
return 0;}

18* The director of the Institute for ICT at Hogeschool Utrecht declared in 2022:“In 10 years, we will have at least 30 percent women in the programme.”

19

65
66
67

#include “codam.h”

Neurodiverse* students choose Codam for its flexibility and immediateapplication of skills and knowledge.

68
69

int main() {codam_quote_title(7071

Neurodiversity

They stay because they feel accepted for who they are.		“Being neurodiverse at Codam”72);73

codam_quote(The initiatives by Codam’s Inclusion Students Club for neurodiverse
students include:74		“The open model of Codam helps✱Organising a Neurodiversity Week

75		neurodiverse students. You determine✱Initiating a low stimuli room76		

when you come to the campus and what✱

Making fidget toys available

77		

your pace is. Neurodiverse students

78		

can’t always easily adapt to the79		

rigid study schedules and80		

deadlines of traditional education.”

81);

82

codam_quote_author(

83		“~ Daoyi, Codam student & Chair

84		Inclusion Club”

85);

86

return 0;

87* Autistic, ADD, ADHD, dyslexic and/or gifted.

}

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Economic diversity
We are committed to empowering every student’s potential, free fromfinancial constraints. Our Student Assistance Programme ensures thatstudents from challenging socio-economic backgrounds have the support
they need to succeed and thrive in their educational journey.
Our Student Assistance Programme supports students with:✱Travel costs✱

Healthcare costs✱

Rental costs✱

Sponsored living spaces

Since 2018, Codam has provided financial support to 621 Selection Piscine
participants and students, amounting to a total of € 370,000.
We’re grateful to our partners Sofronie Foundation, Adyen, Exact Foundation
and The Student Experience for enabling additional financial assistancethrough various scholarship programmes.

#include “codam.h”
int main() {codam_quote(		“I can’t apply for a student travel		

product. Fortunately, Codam stepped in and		

supported me via the Student Assistance		Programme. Now I can be present at school		

every day of the week.”);
codam_quote_author(		“~ Swenne, Codam student”);
return 0;22}232.2 Satisfied students
A positive and supportive community is key for effective peer learning. The
outstanding results from our 2023 annual Student Satisfaction Survey showthat Codam students are truly thriving.

Happy students“How satisfied are you with Codam in general?”Students rated Codam with a 4.3

Traditional Informatica Bachelor
students rated their studies with a 3.7

Our ambassadors“I would choose for Codam again.”Students rated Codam with a 4.6“I would recommend Codam to others.”
Students rated Codam with a 4.6

2425

2.3 Student clubs
Student clubs play a vital role in creating a vibrant community and sparking
collaboration. They bring students together on campus, providing a funand welcoming space to bond over common interests and passions, which
greatly enriches the educational journey!

12 clubs enrich lives at Codam. Their subjects are as diverse as our students.
✱Codam Art Club✱

Codam Boardgame Club✱

Codam Book Club✱COLDAM✱

Codam Food Club✱

Codam Magic: the gathering club✱

Codam Dungeons & Dragons Club✱

Codam Inclusion Club✱

Codam Gaming Club✱

Codam Entrepreneur Club✱

Codam Electronics Club✱

Codam 3D printer Club

#include “codam.h”
int main() {codam_quote(		“Welcome to the club!”);
return 0;}2627

3. practice-based EDUCATION
2829

3. practice-based Education
In 2 years, our students will become solutions-driven, resilient, creative, andconfident team players with excellent programming skills. They are industryready.
To get there, they have to finish at least 16 programming projects from thecurriculum. This ensures that Codam students have spent more than 4x timeon programming compared to traditional university bachelor courses.
Besides coding, our students are experienced in giving and receiving code
reviews. A student engages in at least 100 code reviews during theirstudies. This gives them an edge.

3.1 Industry-ready
From day one, our education emphasises adaptability to new challenges andtechnologies.
With a strong focus on group work, knowledge sharing, and mutual support,we cultivate a collaborative environment.
Instead of simply learning to program, we encourage students to identify
what they need to learn to solve problems, embodying our ‘Learning toLearn’ philosophy.
This approach empowers students to be confident and ready for any
challenge that comes their way.

3.2 Transformative education
Codam’s educational approach inspires a transformative experience.
Our education goes beyond just gaining technical skills. As students
journey through our curriculum, they not only master technology but also
experience a remarkable growth in confidence and a bright outlook on theirfuture.

#include “codam.h”
int main() {Some inspirational examples:✱Angeli transformed from a high school dropout to a system integrationengineer at a cybersecurity company.		“At Codam, we don’t just talk about✱

Parisa transformed from a florist to a software engineering student.		

✱Devanando transformed from a Red Light district brothel manager to asenior backend engineer at a health-tech company.

✱Hilmi transformed from a grocery clerk to a software engineer at anonline grocery store.

✱Debora transformed from a cleaner to a software engineering student.

codam_quote(programming: we DO programming.”);codam_quote_author(		“~ David Giron, Co-Director of Codam”);
return 0;}30

31

3.3 Getting ready for professional life
We organise various events and workshops with partners so students cantake meaningful steps in their budding professional life. These initiatives allowstudents to engage with companies and put their critical problem-solving
abilities, teamwork, and adaptability skills into practice in a different setting:

32✱In-depth Masterclasses✱

Hackathons with partner institutions and companies✱

Technical interview simulations✱Speed date sessions with companies

33

4. a bright future3435

4. a bright future
After graduation, Codam students are in high demand. We’ve earned thetrust of many top companies. Our graduates are praised for their exceptional
programming level, problem-solving mindset and collaborative skills.

74%

100%

€ 1,200

90%

graduates
are hired whileon internshipgraduates
are employedaveragecompensation
per month forinternshipcompanies that
hired Codam
students are
based in NL

Average start salary
Earning an impressive € 4,000 per month, Codam graduates receive higher
salaries in their first job compared to traditional universities, which is atestament to the quality of our education.

Start salary software engineers€ 4,000€ 3,000€ 2,000€ 1,000€0Codam

UniversityHBO

MBO

Type of education
Source: werkzoeken.nl

36

37

65
66

4.1 Where Codam alumni work67

Our graduates consistently attract attention from top-tier tech firms, startups,
and industry giants alike. Codam serves as a talent pipeline, supplying
companies with skilled and adaptable professionals who seamlessly integrate
into diverse work environments.

68
69
70
71
72
73

#include “codam.h”

74
75

int main() {76

codam_quote(77		“We now have more than 10 Codam78		

students working with us. You can tell79		

they are very solution-oriented and80		pragmatic. They are very eager to81		learn, and that works very well

82		for us.”

83);

84

codam_quote_author(

85		“~ Bart Bölger, VP of Human Resources

86		87);88

return 0;

89at		”

}

90
91
92
93
94
95
38

96
97

39

#include “codam.h”

4.2 High employment satisfaction

int main() {It is rewarding to see how well the technical abilities and interpersonal
skills mastered by our students align with the needs of the companies.
This is evident as companies who hire our students consistently reaffirm
their satisfaction, with a steady average evaluation score of 4.6 out of 5.

codam_quote(		“Codam students are real team players who		

have already learned to work well together.		

They have a broad foundation and also learn		

new programming languages easily.”);

Final student evaluations by companies:
Technical Skills | 4.5

Proactivity | 4.7

codam_quote_author(		“~ Evelien Spil, Head of Digital		at);return 0;}40”Team Adaptability | 4.8

Creativity | 4.4
Professional Aptitude | 4.6

41

5. scaling impact

4243

5. Scaling impact

5.1 Financial accountability

Our educational model is scalable largely because our peer learning
approach does not depend on teachers. We don’t need to engage in thetime-consuming and costly processes of training or hiring additional
teaching staff to accommodate more students. For many universities, theshortage of teaching staff can be so problematic that only a fixed quota ofstudents can be accepted (numerus fixus).

Codam is funded by the Sofronie Foundation, the personal foundation ofCorinne Vigreux. The annual donation from the Sofronie Foundation covers
the annual costs such as educational licenses, personnel expenses, and rent.
Our financial statement can be found on the Codam website.

Cost-effective
Codam doesn’t impose tuition fees on our students, the foundation covers
the necessary costs for their education. Our different approach allows us
to be scalable and cost-effective. With an annual investment of € 5,957per student, Codam significantly undercut traditional university costs,
demonstrating a different use of resources that supports scalability. 						Educational institution

The annual costs per computer science student at universities:

5.2 Donations
€€

€

€

00
,0
1400
,0

12

00,0
10

00
8,00
6,00

€

00
4,02,0€€000€If you believe in our mission, we’d be happy to welcome your support.
One way is to make a donation to the Codam Foundation. With yourbacking, we can extend the reach of our education and provide essential
financial assistance to more young adults.

Costs
Source: Uva.nl, Uu.nl, Universiteitleiden.nl

44

Further details can be found on our website: www.codam.nl/en/donate.
45

6. future of education

4647

#include “codam.h”
int main() {codam_quote(		“Before I joined Codam I had never		

had a job. Three years later, I earn		

€60.000 as a software engineer.		

Codam taught me how curiosity and courage		inspire confidence.”);codam_quote_author(		“~ Tijmen El-Baradi, Codam Alumnus”);

6. Future of education
While we take pride in our achievements, celebrating the successes ofour students and seeing them flourish in their careers, we understand thatstanding still is not an option. The fast-paced changes in technologies andinnovation demand that we constantly challenge ourselves and adapt oureducation to meet the students’ and industry’s needs.
In collaboration with our students and partners, we navigate the complexitiesof the modern world, striving to consistently provide high-quality, innovative,and accessible education. We are motivated to positively impact an evergrowing group of young adults, ensuring that a diverse range of people canparticipate in this digital age.
Here’s to the next 5 years!

return 0;}

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Codam Foundation
Kattenburgerstraat 7, building 039
1018 JA Amsterdam
www.codam.nl
contact@codam.nl

52