Apple and the University of Naples Federico II have jointly announced that the first-ever iOS Developer Academy will open in October 2016 at the university's new campus in San Giovanni a Teduccio, a coastal suburb east of Naples, Italy, MacRumors says.

The news was first reported by German website Macerkopf.

The free academy will provide more than 200 students with "practical skills and training on developing apps" in the first year, with more to follow in the years ahead, as part of a nine-month curriculum designed and supported by Apple. The facility includes labs and access to the latest Apple hardware and software.

"We are thrilled to be working with Università di Napoli Federico II to launch the first iOS Developer Academy in Europe," said Luca Maestri, Apple's CFO.

First semester courses will focus on enhancing and improving students' software development skills on iOS, while second semester students will attend courses on the creation of startups and app design, and work together to create apps that could eventually be released on the App Store, MacRumors says.

Apple's plans to open its first iOS app development center in Europe were first announced by CEO Tim Cook in January.