By 2030, jobs are going to be rather different from today’s. Many of those jobs do not exist yet. This represents a challenge for higher education institutions which much join forces with industries to fill the future talent pipeline.
As cloud technologies transform organizations at a fast pace, employees with cloud skills are in high demand. According to LinkedIn data, cloud computing is the number one hard skill that companies request and need the most, with Cloud Architect being the second most in-demand tech job for 2022.
Also according to LinkedIn, businesses are currently looking for candidates with some familiarity and skill in cloud services such as Amazon Web Services and scaling cloud applications.
This means that in order to respond to the demand, higher education institutions need to provide a comprehensive cloud computing curriculum which can provide students with the necessary skills to get hired in one of the fastest-growing industries.
With this in mind, Amazon Web Services (AWS), The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), and The Higher Education Commission (THEC) have recently partnered to train, upskill, and certify 5,000 students in cloud computing by 2025. The initiative will offer in-demand skills which will be available from participating public community and technical colleges across Tennessee.
Amazon’s Cloud Computing business will provide participating colleges the resources to learn cloud computing skills leading to industry-recognized certifications for great careers in the cloud in the state’s growing tech sector at no cost. The College System of Tennessee, governed by the TBR, is the largest public higher education system comprising 13 community colleges, 27 colleges of Applied Technology, and the online TN eCampus which offers over 500 programs and serves approximately 140,000 students.
According to Dr. Flora W. Tydings, Chancellor at Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR), AWS will provide the following support to the TBR participating colleges and instructors:
- Instructors at participating institutions — including Nashville State Community College and TCAT Nashville — will have access to AWS Academy training programs and certificate exams so that they are better enabled to deliver content and coursework to their students
- AWS will deliver education and training programs, content, and curriculum to students interested in learning foundational cloud computing skills and will prepare them for AWS industry certification exams
- AWS has identified key employment partners in and around Tennessee that are in need of cloud skilled talent. AWS develop opportunities with these employers and other organizations to ensure that students who have matriculated through the programs and become certified have work opportunities including internship, apprenticeship, part-time, or full-time employment
The coursework is starting this fall semester and certifications are stackable, so that students will have the ability to level up on their skills, focus on key areas of interest, and develop themselves as technology professionals.
“There is a high demand for cloud computing skills across all sectors,” said Dr. Tydings, “so graduates of these programs will have valuable skills for entirely new careers, or to broaden and advance in their existing IT careers.”