Expanding access to digital infrastructure training

The Interconnection Academy, a collaboration between DE-CIX and Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) Barcelona, has aligned with the Nomad Futurist Foundation to extend learning opportunities in networking, data centres, and interconnection. This initiative seeks to make industry-certified courses available globally, particularly as demand for AI-driven digital infrastructure continues to grow.

The World Economic Forum anticipates that by 2030, core skills in networks, security, AI, and technological literacy will be indispensable across multiple sectors. In contrast, by late 2025, 76% of IT firms struggled to fill technological roles. The planned retirement of 25% of network engineers over the next five years could worsen this skills gap.

This partnership aims to close these gaps through enriched training modules. Commencing in January 2026, the Interconnection Academy will introduce new modules on networking and interconnection ecosystems, supplemented by additional courses later in the year.

The Interconnection Academy and Nomad Futurist Foundation's joint effort aims to strengthen their learning platforms. By sharing specialist content and modules, they hope to enrich their educational resources. This enhanced educational focus coincides with their joint meeting in Hawaii, where DE-CIX’s CEO Ivo Ivanov will address the annual PTC Beyond Masterclass 2026.

Founded in 2021, the Interconnection Academy provides a platform for learners to integrate interconnection practices into their IT environments with partnerships across the industry. 

Conversely, the Nomad Futurist Academy, an initiative by the non-profit Nomad Futurist Foundation, seeks to engage learners by shedding light on the intricacies of digital infrastructure. Through various educational formats, it helps individuals connect technological skills with real-world applications.

Participants can look forward to modules shared between the two academies. Nomad Futurist will, for instance, contribute foundational data centre infrastructure courses, linking practical knowledge with career-making opportunities.

As Ivo Ivanov reflects on this, emphasising the need for continuous professional development. Yolandi Cloete, Global Interconnection Academy Manager, highlights how this partnership can expand educational access, enabling shared learning and innovation in the digital infrastructure realm.

Nabeel Mahmood, Co-Founder and CEO of Nomad Futurist Foundation, encapsulates the mission: "By partnering with the Interconnection Academy, we’re bridging that gap, making complex concepts approachable, and helping people see a future for themselves in this industry. Education is the on-ramp to inclusion, innovation, and long-term impact."