In IT in 6 months: how they teach at DAR University

DAR U — a next-generation university where educational materials and practical assignments are structured according to the demands of business and the labor market using digital technologies.

Last autumn, a new university for digital professions appeared in Kazakhstan, helping to start a career in IT within six months. The first cohort of four IT specialties, including Java, Web, UI/UX, and business analytics, admitted 65 people. In March, the university launched a new intake, adding three new professions — Product and Project management, as well as Digital Marketing.

How DAR University came about

The university of a new format was launched by the Kazakhstani DAR group of companies. It has been creating digital products since 2015, including in education, sports, fintech, and the digitalization of business processes.

From its early years, the company has regularly conducted internships in in-demand IT specialties. Over 7 years, it has trained more than 500 interns in various fields — from Web and mobile development to business analytics and UI/UX design. In addition to free training, the company also hired the best students, helping them start their careers in the IT industry.

DAR consistently directs its efforts toward creating an educational space where one can gain unique knowledge from leading specialists of the company. Last year, we scaled the internship process and presented the market with a new digital learning platform, 5Q, with a line of express courses in Kazakh and Russian. And in the fall, we launched full-fledged courses at DAR University.

At the university, they not only transmit theoretical knowledge but also improve practical skills that contribute to quick adaptation at work. At DAR U, they actively apply online learning tools, dialogues, and communication between mentors and students.

How learning is organized at DAR University

Students master the theoretical base online on the platform, and practical skills in the format of workshops are mastered in the office with the support of mentors. Then they are combined into teams to create graduation projects.

This collaborative work includes key stages of IT development in the company: UI/UX designers conduct research, business analysts formulate the technical specification, and developers handle the technical implementation of the product. At the project defense in late March, students will present two versions of an online service for searching and creating events, developed over five weeks.

Miras Magzom, Lead Software Developer at DAR, program mentor

During the project preparation, we create conditions for students to also develop soft skills. For example, the ability to communicate and work in a team. When developing services, teams use kanban boards that help track, understand, and decompose tasks. We also teach students to decipher the technical specification presented in text and design form. These skills will come in handy for them in future work on real projects.

The set of technologies and approaches used in IT is quite unified, and everything can be learned. However, interacting with other people is not easy for everyone, which is not always taken into account in classical IT education, although it is very important for work. At the same time, the better a person communicates, the easier it will be for them in their career.

Project work also gives students the opportunity to demonstrate leadership qualities, for example, assigning tasks and checking their execution. The experience of team interaction largely repeats the process of real development, and the finished project can be included in the portfolio.

Who is suitable for studying at DAR University

Unlike internship programs, admission to DAR University does not require programming experience or IT knowledge. As the first intake showed, these are mainly specialists from other fields who want to retrain, and current students not related to IT.

Guliza Bulekbayeva, Head of DAR University

It was important for us to link the curriculum with competencies in demand in the market, so that after completing the training, a person could easily find a job. Thus, we introduced the concept of "skilling," when fundamental academic knowledge is adapted into practical skills. Thanks to this, we have many examples of how after our internships and completing express courses, young people quickly find jobs and get hired by leading Kazakhstani companies.

The IT sector is one of the highest-paid in Kazakhstan. It has many directions suitable for both those who like programming and those who are strong in other areas. The training process and transition to IT also take less time due to new approaches and learning formats. For this, you only need time and desire.