Holberton School opens a 5th campus and continues developing its innovative teaching model.

No teachers, no classes, no prerequisites required, funded tuition… Holberton School is not a school like any other. Established in France for 2 years and integrated into Actual group's training network, it trains students for digital professions through project-based learning, with a guaranteed job at the end!

This study, conducted in the second half of 2024, reveals a significant drop in French workers' confidence in the future, linked to a context of political and economic uncertainty.

Announced on February 7th during a press conference at Thonon-les-Bains town hall, the opening of a brand-new campus in Haute-Savoie represents an additional milestone in Holberton School's growth. Following Lille, Paris, Laval, and Toulouse, this is the fifth location in France. It will be headed by Olivier Ducourant, former business development director at Ecole 42, who will work with Julien Cyr, Managing Director France, to roll out this new campus, and more broadly, drive Holberton School's expansion across France. The choice of Thonon-les-Bains aligns with the goal of implementing a local project with international reach. The local municipality has committed to an ambitious development strategy focused on video games. In 2022, the first edition of the "Thonon Gaming Fest" took place, set to rapidly become a key event for industry players. Setting up close to employers has always been Holberton School's strategy… breaking the mold of traditional education.

Holberton School was founded in Silicon Valley in 2015, but originated from the vision of two French founders. The initial concept was to meet the constantly growing demand from companies seeking digital talent. However, this goal faced an obstacle: quality education in the digital field was not accessible to everyone. Financial barriers existed, as well as age and educational degree constraints. Holberton School's model set out to remove these obstacles, making training accessible to as many people as possible. This philosophy resonates with that of Actual group, a major player in employment and temporary work, long committed to the human aspect of support. Operating under a brand licensing model, Holberton School naturally joined Actual group's network of training schools, alongside ESUP and Lektio.

To be accessible to everyone, Holberton School established a model based on 4 founding principles:

1. no degree required: admission to the training program is primarily based on motivation, assessed through an online test;
2. no typical profile: from students starting out to seniors changing careers, the program is open to all adults, with or without a degree;
3. no teachers, no classes: students work on a project-basis using real-world case studies that encourage teamwork and initiative;
4. funded training: thanks to a banking partnership, tuition can be paid once a job is secured.

The curriculum prepares students for all development roles (software, video games, Web, mobile, etc.). With three intakes per year, Holberton School offers training structured around a nine-month core curriculum (C language, Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, DevOps) and a three to five-month internship, providing access to a Level 5 RNCP qualification (2-year higher education degree equivalent). Upon completion, students can choose to continue with an optional short specialization of three months (learning front-end or back-end) or a long one of nine months (full-stack, machine learning, blockchain, AR/VR) leading to a Level 6 RNCP qualification (4-year degree equivalent). Beyond technical skills, Holberton School also teaches students essential soft skills—concepts that give them the tools to think independently, collaborate with colleagues, speak in public, or write technical articles explained simply for non-experts.

For Actual group, incorporating Holberton School into its network of schools meets the need to offer innovative employment solutions and train profiles that match business demand. Specialized in job placement support and particularly involved in social inclusion temporary work (aimed at individuals facing the greatest difficulties and furthest from the job market), Actual teams are equipped to guide potential candidates toward digital skills training. Throughout the course, Actual specialists host workshops on resume writing, interview preparation, and share insight on hiring sectors and companies. Ultimately, this partnership helps guarantee employment for graduates and supports them in finding the company that best fits their profile. The opening of this 5th campus in Thonon-les-Bains–which welcomed its first cohort in June 2023–demonstrates the relevance of the solution offered by Actual group through Holberton School.

Located at 5 avenue des Allobroges, in the heart of the city and right next to the train station, the Holberton School campus in Thonon will welcome its first cohort of students on June 5, 2023.

“I deeply believe that education must constantly reinvent itself, integrate new knowledge, leverage new technologies, and adapt to students who are all different. The digital revolution requires schools to equip all students with the tools to adapt, act, and create a connected society. Holberton School and the City of Thonon are joining forces to train software developers capable of building the digital infrastructure essential for the growth of tech-driven societies.”

Christophe Arminjon
Mayor of Thonon-les-Bains

“The city of Thonon-les-Bains’ project aligns in every way with the values championed by Holberton School and Actual group: local presence, democratizing digital skills training, and sustainable job integration. We are proud to contribute to developing a new technology business hub in Haute-Savoie, helping make this region a key player in the French digital landscape.”

Olivier Ducourant
Director of Holberton School Thonon

About Actual

Today the 5th largest player in the employment and staffing market in France, Actual group is a French group with a resolutely humanistic vision, advocating daily to facilitate the right to work for everyone. Built around 4 core businesses – staffing, recruitment, support, and training – the group is No. 1 in social inclusion temporary staffing in France. Led by Samuel Tual, a committed entrepreneur, Actual group has developed genuine expertise in supporting individuals into employment across France, as well as in Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, through employment solutions and skills development. The group also offers a comprehensive range of HR solutions to support businesses in finding or creating the skills they need. Thanks to its 4,000 employees and more than 600 agencies across the country, Actual group currently supports 33,000 businesses and 156,000 job seekers, achieving a revenue of €1.5 billion in 2024. Its ambition is to build working lives together for women and men, everywhere in France.

About Holberton School

Established in 15 countries, Holberton School was launched in 2015 in the heart of Silicon Valley by two French engineers. Thanks to a partnership in France with Actual group, a leading French player in employment solutions, Holberton School aims to democratize access to digital careers and provide a concrete solution to the country's talent shortage. Holberton School operates on the principle of "peer-learning"—a hands-on methodology with 95% practical work that fosters collaboration, teamwork, and collective drive. The school opens its doors in Lille, Laval, Paris, Toulouse, and Thonon-les-Bains, aiming to drive its growth in close collaboration with public training stakeholders and local businesses.

Contacts, information and practical links

Michaël Draï
Actual group press office
Tel:06 60 41 86 78
Email:drai@uneidee.com

Guillaume Neron Bancel
Actual group Communications
Email:guillaume.neronbancel@groupeactual.eu