DevOps Educational Program in Ukraine

I originally wrote the blog below to share with our developer community in Ukraine the story of our collaboration with ucode IT academy and the “DevOps world” program it has created. However, due to the war, the program is currently suspended.

Even in the current difficult time, as priorities and responsibilities change, we can continue to learn and grow. We all hope to be able to restart the program soon. Sharing information about the program to be available to our developer community.

Starting a DevOps Education Program

This journey began many years ago when a local Cisco office in Ukraine started to support different developer communities and education programs for developers. We wanted to create an educational program designed to create possibilities for students and professionals alike to grow their careers in the fields of network automation, DevOps, and security. Through the program we collaborate with skilled developers and engineers regarding NetDevOps methodology. For example, for newcomers we set up weekly Python meetups and DevOps meetings. Also, we involve some integrators, client engineers, network and security specialists, and the local DevOps community.

A few years ago, we established a partnership with ucode IT academy and started creating the “DevOps world” program. In ucode there are four programs available – Full Stack, DevOps, GameDev, and IoT. All programs are created with commercial companies market leaders. Before starting, submitters need to complete three levels of the selection process: proficiency in English, logic, and motivation. All programs start with learning programming languages from basic knowledge. The program’s duration is more than 8 months. It’s total immersion, and it’s possible to use mentors.

Challenge-based learning

Ucode IT academy makes educational programs that utilize a challenge-based learning framework. Students get 100% practice without getting bogged down in theory. It’s a methodology that teaches you how to work in a team (peer-to-peer) and constantly improve your knowledge. The main objective is to allow students to gain theoretical and practical knowledge that is based in real world situations.

Students learn how to work in a team (peer-to-peer) while improving their knowledge
(Challenge Based Learning). 

All challenges are unique and were developed in collaboration with the local Service Engineer team, partners, and the networking engineer DevOps community. During the program, participants also need to complete team challenges. They have to learn to prioritize tasks and be team players.

Some challenges need to be done by using DevNet Sandboxes, where users can use predefined environments with Cisco and open source products such as CML.

Challenges look like a statement of work for creating an application or completing a NetDevOps tasks. The completed project should look like a working and tested solution that can solve real tasks. For example, define and test a pod that can deploy solutions for network monitoring. You would be proud to add completed projects to your portfolio.

Tools you’ll use… Skills you’ll learn

Program participants will work with a wide range of tools and approaches, including Python, Docker, Kubernetes, Network programmability, Ansible, Network Services Orchestrator, edge computing, pyATS, CI/CD tools, HashiCorp Stack, Telegraf, Influxdb, Grafana (TIG stack), Firewall Management Center, and AppDynamics.

Many projects are well known in the industry and have become a de facto benchmark.

Names of challenges:

• Container project
• Networking project
• Container Orchestration and GitOps
• IoT and DNA
• App analytics and security

Skills you’ll learn:

• Network management and configuration
• Design, creation, monitoring of applications
• Automating the deployment by testing of programs and applications
• Configuration, usage of open source technologies
• Analysis of the performance of an application
• Working with APIs of various products and solutions and integration of solutions.
• To writing tests, including monitoring services/ports.

Graduates will be able to:

• master the administration and automation of network security aspects of applications and programs.
• configure systems, deploy, scale, and to manage applications in containers automatically.
• have a set of practices and knowledge of implementing a secure software development cycle.
• identify problem areas in the work of applications and microservices.
• create scripts, extensions, and applications for unified communications and technologies for smart cities.

Information about the program’s restoration can be found here https://ucode.world/

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