The job market is increasingly in need of individuals with programming skills. However, according to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), there is a shortage of over 1 million people with the necessary skills to meet the projected demand in Latin America by 2025.

For this reason, in 2021, we teamed up with two other Argentine companies, Globant and Digital House, to co-create the Certified Tech Developer program. Our aim is to give more young people the chance to prepare for the knowledge economy. The program offers scholarships to young individuals interested in pursuing tech careers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and, as of 2023, in Mexico, Peru, and Ecuador. In addition to being one of the program cofounders, Mercado Libre offers scholarships for low-income applicants, women and other historically excluded groups.

The training course is expected to be completed in 24 months (full-time students), and is conducted through live online classes. It aims to teach the top skills that big tech companies are looking for today. This way, right from the first year, students have the potential to enter the job market with an attractive salary, without the need for a university degree.

Implementing agile methodologies, the program accelerates learning focusing on practice during class time, and theory study at home, outside of classes. Topics covered are:

• Digital fundamentals, such as front-end, infrastructure, and databases.
• Core soft skills for the tech industry, such as teamwork and collaboration, time management, and assertive communication.

After completing 1,300 hours in class and 2,200 hours for the whole training process (including class time), students are granted a Tech Degree majored in front-end or back-end.

Learn more about the program and how to participate!