ESSA Learning Programmes in Slovenia: DevOps Academy
Authors: Mateja Pucihar Baebler, Consultant, ICT Association of Slovenia; Vlado Stankovski, Professor of Computer Science, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science; Arvin Jušić, Web Developer, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Computer and Information Science
Addressing Slovenia’s ICT Skills Shortage
Slovenian companies face significant challenges in hiring ICT experts, with the country needing an additional 5,000 to 6,000 ICT professionals annually by 2030 to meet EU Digital Compass targets. Currently, the number of new graduates in digital fields in Slovenia is insufficient, not exceeding 2,000 annually. Continuous learning, reskilling, and promoting lifelong learning are essential to bridge this gap and keep Slovenian ICT companies competitive.
The ESSA Project and ICT Association of Slovenia
The ICT Association of Slovenia, a part of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia, is one of the twenty partners in the ESSA Software Skills Alliance project, and one of the five industry partners. Since the beginning of the project, the association envisioned the ESSA learning programme pilots as an opportunity for its members and their employees to upskill their workforce.
Launching the DevOps Academy
In the initial phase of the ESSA project, the partners conducted a survey to evaluate current and future software skills needs and organized both national and European focus groups. The focus group held in Slovenia included several ICT companies that are members of the ICT Association of Slovenia. Participants in this focus group identified critical roles, which included DevOps Expert.
In response to these identified needs, the ICT Association of Slovenia, in collaboration with the Faculty of Computer and Information Science at the University of Ljubljana, launched the DevOps Academy to provide targeted training. The Academy was based on the ESSA Educational Programmes, with a particular focus on the Junior DevOps Expert (EQF6) curriculum.
Course Structure and Content
The DevOps Academy was structured into six modules covering web application development (both back-end and front-end), modern infrastructure (virtualization, containerization, orchestration), and software testing. Each module spanned three weeks:
- Week 1: On-site lectures (20 hours total) focused on foundational concepts.
- Week 2: Independent project work with online support from professors.
- Week 3: Written exams and project presentations at the Faculty.
Work-Based Learning Integration
The academy emphasized a practical work-based learning component, allowing participants to apply their skills to real-world scenarios. Over six modules, participants developed a complete solution, starting from backend development to implementing security features, containerization, and testing for cloud deployment.
Outcomes and Impact
Out of 15 participants, 13 successfully completed the academy, earning 11 ECTS credits and a certificate from the Faculty of Computer and Information Science confirming a successful completion of the ESSA pilot study programme “Junior DevOps Expert”. The certificates, available in both paper and digital formats, will be convertible into micro-certificates once validated at the national or EU level.
Participants reported significant improvements in their work, citing enhanced skills in automation processes, virtualization, and software testing, leading to increased efficiency in their companies.
The DevOps Academy successfully addressed the urgent need for ICT skills in Slovenia by providing specialized training aligned with market needs. The involvement of expert professors and the integration of the work-based learning component contributed to the academy’s success. This initiative is a key step in ensuring that the Slovenian ICT sector remains competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.