Codecool, a Budapest-based IT programming course provider, announced its merger with Poland-based Software Development Academy (SDA), an IT learning academy, to create a technology training and sourcing hub in Central Europe. 

It plans to expand into new markets and strengthen its presence in the digital skills training space. 

The combined company offers skilling, upskilling, and reskilling courses to individuals, companies, and government organizations. It expects to train 15,000 –20,000 individuals annually in the areas of software development, testing, and cybersecurity. The training will be conducted in partnership with ~400 local and international brands in Central Europe including Accenture, Microsoft, Motorola, Morgan Stanley, Ericsson, and Vodafone. It has more than 300 employees, 17 digital reskilling pathways, and a network of 1,600 mentors. Furthermore, it has a market presence in Poland, Hungary, Romania, Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Albania. 

Analyst QuickTake: The pandemic led to an increase in demand for cybersecurity skills, following the exposure of the shortfall in skills in both local and international markets. The merger announcement follows on the heels of the EU, revealing that it is experiencing a cybersecurity workforce shortfall of 1.8 million. It was also revealed that the global cybersecurity workforce gap is more than 2.72 million and that the demand for tech-related jobs in the UK has hit a 10-year high. Further, an important goal under the EC’s Digital Decade program is to recruit 20 million IT professionals by 2030.