DE-CIX’s Interconnection Academy is set to expand free access to specialized training in networking and data centers in a bid to plug the industry skill gap.

The Interconnection Academy teamed up with the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona and the Nomad Futurist Foundation to offer thousands of industry-certified courses to professionals and students.

Available via DE-CIX’s online educational platform, the trio is set to launch modules covering the networking and the interconnection ecosystem in January and April, with further courses planned throughout the year.

“With the advent of AI, we are facing the newest industrial revolution, in which we will need to further up-skill and re-skill workers for tomorrow’s industries,” said Ivo Ivanov, DE-CIX’s CEO and founder of the Interconnection Academy. “Here, education platforms like the Interconnection Academy and the Nomad Futurist Academy offer a valuable resource for people just starting out in the workforce as well as those needing to update their knowledge and skills for a changing world.”

Amid the rapid development of digital infrastructure, the demand for skills is naturally rising, leaving providers unable to find the talent to keep up with expansion.

DE-CIX cited World Economic Forum figures that suggest topics like networks security and AI will become core skills for employees across a range of industries by 2030.

And yet, the operator suggested that 76% of IT companies worldwide admitted late last year they were unable to fill tech specialist vacancies – a problem set to be further exacerbated by the expected retirement of around 25% of network engineers within the next five years.

Founded in 2021 by the Internet Exchange operator, the Interconnection Academy offers training covering the core knowledge of the interconnection industry. The platform partners with industry experts, businesses, and organizations to create accessible learning materials that reflect the evolving industry landscape.

The Nomad Futurist Academy, meanwhile, is an initiative launched by the non-profit Nomad Futurist Foundation that offers a global learning and awareness platform covering digital infrastructure.

As part of the pair’s partnership, the Nomad Futurist will share select modules with the Interconnection Academy, with an initial focus on data center infrastructure.

“Digital infrastructure touches every part of modern life, yet very few people truly understand how it works or the opportunities it creates,” said Nabeel Mahmood, co-founder and CEO of the Nomad Futurist Foundation. “By partnering with the Interconnection Academy, we’re bridging that gap, making complex concepts approachable, and helping people see a future for themselves in this industry. Education is the on-ramp to inclusion, innovation, and long-term impact.”

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