Expanding access to cloud skills training with AWS Education Programs

Editor’s note: This is article one of a four-part series that highlights Amazon Web Services (AWS) Education Programs. AWS Training and Certification is committed to growing and diversifying cloud talent for our customers and AWS Partners. Our Education Programs remove barriers to education and forge new paths for individuals to develop cloud expertise and enter the technology workforce.

International Day of Education

Did you know today is the fourth annual International Day of Education (IDOE)? In proclaiming January 24 as IDOE, the United Nations General Assembly recognized the importance of ensuring “inclusive and equitable quality education to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” This year’s IDOE theme is “Changing Course, Transforming Education.”

What better way to celebrate the transformative power of education than by highlighting three incredible AWS Education Program graduates who have transformed their lives and careers with cloud skills training? Over the next few days, we’ll dive deep to learn how graduates have found success with AWS Education Programs. We’ll share their program experience, the job they landed upon graduation, and what they wished they knew before starting their AWS journey.

The IT skills gap is complex and growing

At AWS, we’ve heard from customers and AWS Partners around the world that filling roles that require cloud skills can be challenging. There are simply not enough applicants to meet the growing demand. In fact, the 2021 IT Skills and Salary Report from Global Knowledge indicated that 76% of IT decision makers reported IT skills gaps, which is a 145% increase from 2016. Addressing diverse representation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) adds complexity to hiring challenges. Pew Research recently reported that only 9% of STEM workers are Black and only 8% are Hispanic.

AWS is committed to diversifying the tech industry talent pipeline and helping our customers and Partners address IT skills gaps. AWS Training and Certification enables individuals from all backgrounds and levels of education around the world, to develop cloud skills and begin promising careers in technology. One way we do this is by expanding access to free cloud skills training and education. In December 2020, AWS committed to investing hundreds of millions of dollars to provide free cloud skills training to 29 million people by 2025. Since then, we’ve helped six million people gain cloud skills.

A diverse pool of entry-level, cloud-skilled talent

As part of this commitment, AWS Education Programs, such as AWS Academy, AWS Educate, AWS re/Start, and AWS Tech U, prepare diverse learners for in-demand, entry-level tech roles, across the globe. With the only cloud training designed by the experts at AWS, we empower learners at all levels to innovate with confidence and leaders to drive transformation and deliver results in their organizations. We’re investing in individuals as they launch their careers by helping them become lifelong AWS learners who can help AWS customers and Partners fill vacant roles and immediately add value on the job. With experiential learning in the AWS Cloud, graduates of AWS Education Programs have the skills and knowledge they need to innovate on their first day of employment.

“We make training more accessible for anyone interested in a cloud career,” says Kevin Kelly, director of Education Programs at AWS. “Many graduates from our programs join us to re-enter the workforce following careers in the military, customer service, and the arts. These employees come to their new roles with the ability to offer unique perspectives to tackle on-the-job challenges.”

What’s next?

AWS is proud to expand the global reach of programs that support the tech talent of tomorrow. Stay tuned over the next few days to hear directly from AWS Education Programs graduates who’ve benefited from cloud skills training to launch promising careers in tech. Learn more about AWS Training and Certification.