French Nonprofit Tech School Requires No Tuition

The tech school, 42, has acquired two properties, with rehab planned.

FREMONT, CA—A nonprofit technology school based in Paris, 42 , has launched in the United States. Earlier this year, the school acquired two properties consisting of a 100,000-square-foot classroom building at 6600 Dumbarton Circle and an 84,000-square-foot dormitory building at 34793 Ardentech Ct. from DeVry Education Group . Florian Bucher, Xavier Niel, Nicolas Sadirac and Kwame Yamgnane came together to create this nonprofit university in Silicon Valley following its success in France. Niel funded it with $100 million of his personal funds and 42 US will be managed by Brittany Bir and Yamgnane. Cushman & Wakefield ‘s Kalil Jenab and Marcus Wood of the firm’s Palo Alto office represented the school in the transaction. Jenab, vice chairman, tells GlobeSt.com: “42 is creating an unparalleled class-A open concept and modern/high tech-learning environment amidst the world’s most advanced and leading tech ecosystems. We are thrilled to have been involved in helping such a unique and innovative school from France establish its presence here in Silicon Valley, and now internationally.” Open 24/7, the Fremont campus offers the students a friendly environment, with collaborative spaces that are both pleasant and functional. 42 would help the most disadvantaged students with 300 spaces in the dormitories, which are completely free of cost. 42 is working with the city of Fremont to increase this capacity to 600. The most modern equipment will be at students’ disposal. The 42 teaching method is innovative in many ways. It represents a new step in the implementation of the principles of open education successfully developed more than 20 years ago in France. 42 goes further, in fact, by developing a system of self education with peer-to-peer learning. This is a type of participatory learning that allows students to unleash creativity through project-based learning. Since its creation in France in 2013, 42 has received more than 200,000 applications and currently has 2,500 students. According to the school, “42 is the most daring response yet to the challenge of information technology skill development, as well as a source of innovation for the future. 42 will grow to 10,000 students within the next five years. This will allow for the training of IT talents in large numbers.” 42′s mission is to undercover the talents of this generation in the field of programming and to do so on a broad scale. Students are selected neither on the basis of financial ability nor educational degree, but solely on the basis of talent and motivation. By employing this new educational approach, 42 does not apply the academic or the financial criteria that prevent too many of today’s young people from achieving success. In this nonprofit organization, no registration and tuition fees will be required before, during or even after attending 42.