AI School Factoría F5: Supporting a more inclusive AI technology sector

Abstract

Madrid, Spain—

• Founded in December 2016, the AI School Factoría F5 aims to provide training and job opportunities in the AI technology sector to individuals from disadvantaged social backgrounds and underrepresented group

• They offer an intensive 9-month training programme (1 250 hours) to develop highly sought-after AI talent, focusing on creating a diverse, inclusive, and qualified pool of entry-level professionals.

• The school has established close partnerships with businesses, who also benefit from the collaboration by gaining access to a pipeline of skilled, diverse candidates.

What are the objectives?

Spain has a high share of the working age population at risk of poverty or social exclusion and a high youth unemployment rate. In 2023, 29% of young people (aged 15-24) were unemployed, compared to 53% in 2014.1 Despite these significant improvements, youth unemployment in Spain remains above both the EU-27 and OECD averages. In addition to low labour market participation, there is a strong labour tightness in the IT sector. Similar to most OECD countries, in Spain, labour shortages are more than twice as high in ICT jobs compared to the average job in the country (OECD, 2024 forthcoming, OECD Twin Transition Tracker), indicating that people with digital skills have concrete employment prospects.

Factoría F5 was founded in December 2016 with the desire to build a bridge between the thousands of vulnerable people in Spain and the thousands of unfilled positions in technology companies. Factoría F5’s mission is to put the digital transition at the service of an inclusive society, providing new training, work and life opportunities for people, focusing on the groups most in need: young people, women, people excluded from the labour market and other underrepresented groups.

The primary objective of the AI School Factoría F5 is to serve as a reliable and continuous source of diverse digital talent. The school aims to ensure a steady stream of opportunities for its students while aligning its teaching programmes with the demands of the labour market.

How does it work in practice?

Factoría F5 is a full-time 9-month training bootcamp targeting entry-level training, which allows learners to complete a certification on Microsoft Azure. It leverages active pedagogy (learning by doing, learning by teaching, project-based learning, teamwork, etc.) and includes a practical application period at the end of the training programme. The AI School now offers three different paths during the last months of the bootcamp: Data Analyst, Data Scientist and Data Engineer. In comparison to other Spanish cities, Madrid’s demand for entry-level positions for AI profiles is particularly high, and the city represents about 50% of the Spanish IT labour market.

Throughout the training, as well as after completion, a network of hiring partners (among which include members of the Microsoft client ecosystem) are mobilised for professional development opportunities and the job placement of learners. Each learner will benefit from individual support for their job placement and a post-training mentoring programme called Employability & Career journey. This includes mentoring by volunteer professionals from the AI/IT sector for an additional three months after the end of the training programme.

To secure the necessary fundings to make the model sustainable and scalable, Factoría F5 drives alliances to respond to the need to bridge the digital gap and ensure that access to digital opportunities is equitable. The strategy is facilitating cross-sector collaboration and ensuring that digital inclusion initiatives are prioritised in the private sector to promote a diverse and inclusive workforce in the digital age.

What has been the impact?

80% of students have attained fulltime IT employment, further education, or entrepreneurship within the first six months of completing their training. The AI School F5 has successfully shown that unlocking the hidden digital talent of vulnerable individuals is possible, effectively challenging prejudices about who can possess digital skills. During the most recent AI Hiring Day, more than 15 different companies and over 25 recruiters participated in-person where 25 students secured interviews.

The F5 School has had 50 students thus far, with another 25 students having started in May 2024. Women account for over 60% of the learners, and although they range from 18 to 55 years old, 30% are under 30. Since a well-educated and diverse AI workforce significantly contributes to growth by driving innovation and productivity, AI School F5 aims to scale and increase its impact, reaching more people and expanding to new territories. Learners come from countries across the world, including Spain, Venezuela, Brazil, Ukraine, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia, Italy, and Peru.

What can other communities learn from this example?

AI training for vulnerable populations can be a tool to combat socio-economic inequalities and provide access to quality jobs. The AI School F5 has demonstrated that challenges in engaging vulnerable individuals can be overcome by hands-on teaching approaches such as learning by doing, learning by teaching, and project-based learning. Moreover, learnings from the programme highlight the importance of building strong relationships with businesses during the training process. By partnering with companies, training programmes can stay aligned with the latest industry needs and standards, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the job market. Moreover, these relationships can lead to internship opportunities, mentorship programmes, and job placements, providing students with practical experience and a smoother transition into the workforce. Businesses can also benefit from these partnerships by gaining access to a pipeline of skilled, diverse talent.

Further information

• La primera escuela digital inclusiva de Inteligencia Artificial en España | Youtube (in Spanish)

• 3ª edición del Bootcamp de Inteligencia Artificial en Factoría F5 | Linkedin (in Spanish)

OECD resources

OECD (2023), OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2023, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/342b8564-en.

OECD (2023), Boosting Social Inclusion in Spain: Improving Pathways and Co-ordination of Services, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/56b604a0-en.

OECD (2024), Twin Transition Tracker: Assessing Regional Resilience, https://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/twintransitiontrackerassessingregionalresilience.htm

Note

← 1.  Eurostat (2024), LFS main indicators, Unemployment by sex and age – annual data, https://doi.org/10.2908/UNE_RT_A