How Mohamad Found His Path into IT Through DC Academy

Mohamad Sara, a trained automation technician, fled the war in his home country and was working as a taxi driver in Sweden when he heard about Sandviken Datacenter Academy (DCA). His journey demonstrates how the Datacenter Academy helps people find new paths into the technology industry. Through hands-on training, local partnerships, and support from Microsoft, the nonprofit association meets a growing demand for skills and creates new opportunities in the region.

“I have so much more energy now. I feel so hopeful. I’m really excited, and I want to learn more,” says Mohamad Sara.

The turning point came during a taxi ride. His passenger, Mia Enayatollah from Microsoft, told him about DCA. The conversation sparked Mohamad’s interest, and he applied shortly afterward.

After passing the entrance test, he joined the fast-track program, where he developed his skills in networking, hardware, and datacenter operations.

Play the video to hear Mohamad tell his story: “I had a feeling she could help me.”

A fast track for untapped IT talent

For Sam Cole, Head of Sandviken DCA, Mohamad is an example of the kind of talent the association wishes to identify and develop.

“Everyone knows someone who is an IT person at heart. They might work in a restaurant, in a store, or as a taxi driver, but they are the person everyone calls when technology isn’t working,” says Sam Cole.

The fast-track program lasts 12 to 14 weeks and is designed for people who already have some IT skills. The entrance test lets them showcase what they know, regardless of their educational background or current occupation. Candidates who pass can build on their existing skills instead of completing the one-year program that Sandviken DCA also offers.

Hands-on learning in the datacenter lab

In the lab, participants work with professional-grade hardware, build systems, and solve technical problems together. They practice skills that can be challenging to learn through theoretical study alone, such as troubleshooting hardware and networks. Through this work, they gain practical experience and confidence as they learn alongside others who share their interest in technology.

Sandviken DCA is an independent, nonprofit association that works with municipal adult education providers, high schools, private training providers, and businesses. Partner organizations deliver the training programs. The association provides access to technical equipment and a hands-on lab environment that replicates a real datacenter.

The initiative was launched in partnership with Sandviken Municipality as the datacenter industry began to establish a presence in the area. The aim was to meet businesses’ need for skilled workers and raise local awareness about the training and job opportunities available.

Since the initiative began, over 400 student accounts have been created for DCA’s training programs. Several participants have taken more than one course.

Microsoft’s support makes hands-on training possible

Microsoft is a key partner of Sandviken DCA, but it runs neither the association nor the training programs. Its support includes funding, donations of datacenter equipment, internship opportunities, and mentoring by Microsoft employees. The hardware donated by Microsoft has made it possible to build the lab environment where participants gain practical experience.

“Without Microsoft playing such a major role in DCA, what we do would not be possible. The hardware donations and the annual funding we receive have been the catalyst that has given us complete flexibility,” says Sam.

According to Sam, the support imposes no conditions on how the organization is run. The association and its education partners shape the course content around participants’ and the region’s needs. For Microsoft, it is also a way to help ensure that the communities in which the company builds and operates datacenters can benefit from this development.

“Datacenter Academy turns datacenter growth into opportunities for the local community—local skills, local jobs, and local prospects for the future,” says Mia Enayatollah, who works in community relations within Microsoft’s Swedish datacenter organization.

In the video, Mia Enayatollah and Sam Cole discuss the motivation behind Datacenter Academy: “A desire to create opportunities.”

The next step for Mohamad

According to Sam, Mohamad’s story is special, but far from unique. He sees similar progress in many participants, so he doesn’t measure success solely in terms of applications, completed training programs, or certificates issued.

“On one occasion, I asked everyone in the audience to raise their hand if DCA had changed their life. Everyone raised their hand. Changing people’s lives—that is what success means to me,” says Sam.

For Mohamad, the next step is to complete his training and apply for jobs.

“I can’t wait to finish school and start applying for jobs. And I know it will happen if I don’t give up,” he says.