By Shruti Menon Seeboo
Holberton School, the renowned coding school founded in Silicon Valley, is set to open its Mauritius campus this May, bringing world-class software engineering education to the island. With a mission to train the next generation of elite tech professionals, Holberton Mauritius aims to bridge the local talent gap and prepare students to thrive in the global digital economy. Its innovative project-based and peer-learning methodology, developed in partnership with Silicon Valley giants such as Google, Tesla, and IBM, ensures graduates are industry-ready from day one.
Mauritius has firmly established itself as a burgeoning tech hub, with a growing demand for highly skilled software engineers. Recognising this momentum, Holberton School Mauritius will play a pivotal role in nurturing homegrown talent and supporting the nation’s ambitions to become a key player in AI, cybersecurity, and other emerging sectors. The school’s inclusive admissions policy welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds, requiring no prior diploma or technical experience, making high-quality tech education accessible to anyone with the ambition to succeed.
What sets Holberton apart is its hands-on approach to learning. Students work on real-world projects in a collaborative environment that fosters problem-solving, communication, and leadership skills. The curriculum is continuously updated based on input from Silicon Valley companies, ensuring it remains relevant in a rapidly evolving industry. This holistic model equips students not only with technical expertise but also with the adaptability required for long-term career success.
The founders of Holberton School Mauritius—Frederic Waeber, Patricia Louvet Fuster, and Cyril Quintyn—bring extensive experience in education, technology, and business to the campus. Cyril emphasised the school’s commitment to exceeding industry expectations and contributing significantly to both the Mauritian economy and the wider Indian Ocean region’s technological advancement.
Admissions for the first intake open soon, with classes scheduled to begin in June 2025. Prospective students are encouraged to visit www.holbertonschool.mu to learn more about the application process, curriculum, and how they can join this transformative journey into software engineering.
School Mauritius aims to foster a new era of tech talent that will help drive innovation across the island and beyond. By combining rigorous training with a supportive learning community, the school is poised to transform lives and strengthen Mauritius’s position on the global digital stage. Platform Africa had the privilege to speak with Cyril, who shed more light on Holberton School Mauritius and its vital role in shaping the island’s digital future. Excerpts:
1. What specific areas within the Mauritian tech industry do you see the most significant talent gaps, and how will Holberton School Mauritius tailor its curriculum to address these needs directly?
Mauritius is rapidly developing in fields like software engineering, AI, cybersecurity, and Big Data engineering, but there remains a real shortage of skilled professionals, especially those with practical, industry-ready experience. Holberton School Mauritius is designed to bridge this gap with a project-based curriculum built in collaboration with leading Silicon Valley companies. Our programs focus on full-stack software engineering as a core foundation, with advanced specialisations such as machine learning & AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity. This hands-on, intensive approach ensures students are operational from day one and fully aligned with the needs of both local and international markets.
2. Beyond producing graduates, how do you envision Holberton School Mauritius actively contributing to the growth and innovation of the broader Mauritian tech ecosystem?
Holberton School Mauritius aims to be much more than a school, it will act as a catalyst for the local tech ecosystem. We plan to host hackathons, coding workshops, and tech meetups to foster collaboration between students, startups, and established companies. Partnerships with industry leaders and incubators like La Plage Factory, will help drive innovation and research projects. Thanks to the positive support from government officials and ministers, we are well-positioned to contribute to Mauritius’ ambition of becoming a recognised technology hub in the region.
3. Can you elaborate on any specific adaptations or unique elements being implemented at Holberton School Mauritius to align with the local culture and educational context, compared to other global campuses?
While our core project-based methodology remains the same, Holberton School Mauritius will integrate real-world projects that address local industry challenges and business opportunities. Our goal is to serve and strengthen the local economy through education. Thanks to Patricia Louvet, leadership coach and one of our co-founders, we are also tailoring career coaching and mentorship programs to ensure that students are not only globally competitive but also well-prepared to make an impact within their own communities.
4. What are some key strategies Holberton School Mauritius will employ to ensure accessibility and inclusivity for talented individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds across the island?
Accessibility and inclusivity are central to our mission at Holberton School Mauritius. Our admissions process focuses on motivation, ability, and potential rather than traditional academic qualifications, meaning no diploma is required to apply. We are also actively partnering with local organisations and NGOs to reach underrepresented communities. Through financial support programs, mentorship initiatives, and personalised learning pathways, we are committed to making world-class tech education available to talented individuals from all backgrounds across the island.
5. Could you share the specific “aha!” moment or key factors that led the founding team to choose Mauritius as the location for this Holberton School campus?
The “aha!” moment happened when Frédéric Waeber, who initiated this project, was searching for talented developers for his own business and visited Holberton’s headquarters. He immediately saw how Mauritius’ shortage of tech talent was becoming a real bottleneck for the industry. At the same time, the government’s strong commitment to positioning Mauritius as a regional tech hub made it clear that the timing was right. We saw an opportunity not just to train software engineers, but to build a school that could drive real, lasting impact on the country’s economy and innovation capacity.
6. What are the primary challenges you foresee in establishing and scaling Holberton School Mauritius, and what are your initial strategies to mitigate these?
One key challenge is building awareness around Holberton’s distinctive education model, which is very different from the traditional academic path. To overcome this, we are investing heavily in community engagement, partnerships, and sharing real success stories. Another challenge is ensuring a steady pipeline of motivated students from diverse backgrounds, which we address by working closely with schools, organisations, and local stakeholders. Finally, keeping pace with the fast-evolving tech landscape is essential, and we are committed to continuously updating our curriculum through direct feedback from leading tech companies worldwide.
7. Beyond coding skills, can you provide concrete examples of how Holberton School Mauritius will cultivate essential soft skills like communication and teamwork in its students?
At Holberton School Mauritius, soft skills are developed alongside technical expertise from day one. Students work in peer-learning environments where collaboration is crucial, replicating the structure of real-world tech teams. They engage in group projects, code reviews, and presentations, strengthening their communication, leadership, and critical thinking skills. We also simulate real-world work environments through agile project management practices, emphasising adaptability and accountability. This integrated approach ensures that our graduates are not only highly skilled technically but are also strong collaborators and effective communicators.
8. What specific career support mechanisms and industry connections will Holberton School Mauritius offer its graduates to facilitate their successful entry into the tech job market, both locally and internationally?
Holberton School Mauritius is building strong connections with both local and international tech companies to create direct employment pathways. Students will benefit from personalized career coaching, CV workshops, mock interviews, and portfolio development sessions. Additionally, our EdTech platform allows recruiters to access detailed insights into the skills each student has mastered, providing a much clearer view of their capabilities. This level of transparency and skill mapping will significantly strengthen graduates’ positions in competitive job markets, both locally and abroad.
9. How will Holberton School Mauritius measure its long-term success and impact on the Mauritian tech landscape beyond graduate placement rates?
Beyond placement statistics, Holberton School Mauritius will measure success through the career trajectories of our alumni — tracking their leadership roles, entrepreneurial ventures, and contributions to innovation. A key KPI will also be the number of students without traditional academic backgrounds who go on to become highly skilled software engineers. We also aim to measure our contribution to positioning Mauritius as a leading destination for tech talent. Alumni engagement in mentorship, community initiatives, and tech advocacy will be essential indicators of our broader social and economic impact.
10. Looking at the existing tech education options in Mauritius, what unique value proposition does Holberton School offer to aspiring tech professionals in the region?
Holberton School Mauritius offers a radically different approach compared to traditional education models. We focus on project-based, peer-driven learning rather than lectures, preparing students for real-world challenges from the very beginning. Our curriculum is continuously updated with direct input from top global tech companies to stay aligned with industry needs. We provide a scalable, intensive education that builds both technical excellence and essential soft skills. Combined with strong international connections, a diverse alumni network, and robust local industry partnerships, Holberton gives aspiring tech professionals a powerful springboard into global careers.
