Amazon Web Services (AWS) will add 21 higher education institutions across India offering cloud computing curriculum as part of their undergraduate and post-graduate programs starting in the 2021-22 academic year. The cloud computing curriculum will be included in engineering programs for computer science and information technology, degree programs such as Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Computer Applications, and post-graduate degree programs in technology and management offered by these institutions in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu.
Students in these institutions will learn about cloud architecture, data analytics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). In addition to AWS training and learning resources, students will have access to the AWS Management Console, a simple web interface that that provides them real-world, hands-on experience in using and experimenting with AWS cloud services and building applications. To ensure that students have access to trained educators, more than 100 faculty members at the institutions have been trained to deliver the cloud computing curriculum to students.
This new approach by education institutions aligns with India’s National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) recommendations and highlights the importance of advancing technical education at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels, enhancing institutional capabilities in technology and providing students enhanced experiential learning opportunities.
“We know that technology is redefining India’s workforce and the skills needed to remain competitive. AWS is committed to building the future technology workforce in India by introducing students to cloud computing skills early in their learning path. With AWS training and learning resources, students benefit from the practical skills they gain to immediately add value in high value technology roles, and accelerate their careers,” said Sunil PP, Lead – Education, Space and Non-Profits, AISPL, AWS India and South Asia said. He added, “We are delighted to see more higher education institutions take the initiative to integrate cloud computing curriculum in their education programs to develop the next-generation of cloud computing professionals.”
The report ‘Unlocking APAC’s Digital Potential: Changing Digital Skill Needs and Policy Approaches’ prepared by AlphaBeta and commissioned by AWS found that India will need nine times as many digital skilled workers by 2025. The study found that 76% of India’s digital workers – defined as individuals who have the ability to apply digital technologies on work-related tasks – are not applying cloud computing skills today, but believe it will be a requirement to perform their jobs by 2025. Cloud architecture design, software operations support, website and game software development, large-scale data modelling, and cybersecurity skills are cited as the top five in-demand digital skills in India.
