They launch free training to develop basic skills on the web: who they are intended for and how to access

Although before the outbreak of the coronavirus the world was increasingly moving towards digitization, the truth is that the pandemic strongly accelerated this trend. Within this framework, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched two new free, hands-on training initiatives to enable people to acquire computer skills in the cloud, so that young students and professionals alike will be able to gain more knowledge and experience in computing jobs.

According to the AWS Global Digital Skills Study, 85% of workers recognize that they now need more technical knowledge to do their jobs as a result of the changes brought about by Covid-19. For its part, the World Economic Forum estimated that by 2025 half of the world's workforce will need to be retrained and 97 million new roles will emerge due to digitalization.

AWS Educate: new content with greater reach

The first initiative, AWS Educate, is designed for motivated students 13 and older who are not yet working in the cloud. The program offers hundreds of hours of free one-paced training, including more than 50 courses and ten hands-on labs in the AWS Management Console, so students can practice without a hassle.

As reported by AWS last Wednesday, this new version — which includes interactive content — eliminated the requirement for “.edu” email address. That way, the platform became even more accessible.

New features of the program include:

-Cuatro cursos nuevos: Cloud Computing 101, AWS DeepRacer Primer, Machine Learning Foundation y Builder Labs.

- Nine new laboratories: help students put theory into practice.

- Redesigned website: guides learners to training content based on their knowledge, goals, interests and age.

- New “Explore Online” section: features complementary content such as new courses, Twitch videos, blogs and white papers.

Since the program's inception in 2015, AWS Educate has reached more than 1 million students worldwide. Individuals who want to validate their knowledge can earn AWS Educate badges and prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. The program also provides a bridge to potential employers through the AWS Educate Job Board, which features thousands of cloud computing work publications, where adult students (ages 18 and older) can explore and apply for high-demand jobs and internships.

It is worth mentioning that AWS Educate is available worldwide in English, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and German.

AWS Cloud Quest: Game-Based Learning

The second initiative is AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner, which is available globally in English for personal computers (PCs). This is a completely new 3D game, designed by AWS Training and Certification, that aims to help people gain experience. This program is ideal for the first years of career or for adult learners new to the cloud. “It teaches the fundamental concepts of cloud computing, while students use drones and collect gems in their search to solve challenges in a virtual city,” they graphed from the company.

As they specified, the game includes videos, quizzes and practical exercises based on real-world commercial scenarios. They explained, “Throughout their journey, students understand what the cloud is by exploring AWS's core services and categories (e.g., compute, storage, database and security services) and creating basic cloud solutions.”

For students who want to be accredited in the industry, AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner offers an engaging way to help them prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam.

Amazon Web Services initiatives

“AWS Educate and AWS Cloud Quest intentionally move away from passive content. We want to make abstract cloud computing concepts a reality through interactive, hands-on activities that allow students to turn theory into practice immediately,” summarized Abby Daniel, AWS Program Manager for Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean.

To access the AWS Educate website, go to: https://aws.amazon.com/es/education/awseducate/. And to participate in AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner, through AWS Skill Builder, go to: https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/external/view/elearning/11458/aws-cloud-quest-cloud-practitioner.

Amazon is looking to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to train 29 million people in cloud computing skills for free by 2025. The company set itself the goal of reaching people from all walks of life and all levels of knowledge, in more than 200 countries and territories.

“As the world increasingly digitalized, the need for people with technical knowledge has never been greater,” Daniel said. And along these lines, he concluded: “We want to help address the technology skills gap by putting free skills training in the hands of anyone who wants to learn more about cloud computing.”

KEEP READING: