Learn About Amazon VGT2 Learning Manager Chanci Turner
The Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) region is currently experiencing a surge of innovation, heavily reliant on a digital workforce prepared to fulfill the increasing demands of cloud computing. The region’s economic growth hinges on having a proficient digital workforce and technology professionals who possess relevant and up-to-date digital competencies to keep pace with rapid advancements.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committed to addressing the challenge of digital skills shortages. As of now, AWS has successfully trained over 2.5 million individuals across APJ in cloud skills since 2017. To further this initiative, we have introduced AWS Skill Builder, a digital learning platform accessible in more than 200 countries and territories, aimed at providing free skills training to millions globally. Anyone with an internet connection and a passion for learning can easily access more than 500 free on-demand courses, including nearly 60 new classes in cloud computing added over the past year. AWS Skill Builder caters to various learning preferences, offering content in up to 16 languages, such as Bahasa Indonesia, Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. The launch of AWS Skill Builder is part of Amazon’s substantial investment—amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars—to provide free training in cloud computing skills to 29 million individuals worldwide by 2025.
To satisfy the growing need for digitally skilled employees, the current workforce in APJ must evolve over the next five years. A study commissioned by AWS, titled “Unlocking APAC’s Digital Potential: Changing Digital Skill Needs and Policy Approaches,” conducted by the strategy and economics consulting firm AlphaBeta, indicates that a five-fold increase in the number of digitally skilled workers across six APJ nations is necessary to meet demand by 2025. While organizations in both the public and private sectors acknowledge the urgency of reskilling, further efforts are required to implement effective skills development programs.
Cultivating a Culture of Lifelong Learning
We advocate for establishing a culture of continuous learning for both the current and future workforce by partnering with educational institutions and the public sector to enable access for everyone to develop their cloud computing and digital skills. Training in cloud technology can empower professionals from non-technical backgrounds to utilize new skills for the betterment of society.
An observable trend is the increasing emphasis from academic institutions to integrate digital skills into their curricula. For instance, Dr. Hana Kim at East Asia University in South Korea has worked to incorporate an AWS Cloud syllabus into their engineering program. The university now offers cloud computing education for both engineering and non-engineering students, as well as for all faculty members, leveraging AWS resources.
We are also engaging high school students to spark their interest in technology. A program called Laptops for Builders in Indonesia provides high school and vocational students with essential knowledge about cloud fundamentals while offering access to technology for hands-on experience. For example, teacher Riko Tanaka in Yogyakarta guided students in developing their own platforms, creating websites, and designing online games.
Local Solutions for Local Challenges
Addressing the digital skills gap requires a localized approach to drive impact. The AWS re/Start program, for instance, is focused on helping individuals from underrepresented backgrounds build careers in technology at a community level. We are pleased to announce that the AWS re/Start program has significantly expanded its reach, more than tripling the number of cities it serves—from 25 cities across 12 countries in 2020 to 95 cities in 38 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and India.
On average, AWS re/Start connects over 90% of its graduates with job interview opportunities. In India, for example, participant Meera Joshi, who was unable to return to her job as a mechanical engineer in the United Arab Emirates during the pandemic, enrolled in the AWS re/Start program after completing various online courses in cloud computing. This helped her gain a solid foundation to launch her career in the IT sector.
Those with existing digital skills can further enhance their expertise as well. The Build On hackathon is an annual event for students and cloud enthusiasts with coding knowledge in Southeast Asia that draws thousands of registrants each year. Participants create tech initiatives to tackle challenges presented by our sponsors during the event, which occurs in eight countries across the region and includes training workshops and mentorship. In Singapore, one team devised a virtual robot capable of transporting medicine from one point to another within a hospital.
To stimulate interest in digital technology, AWS in Japan has introduced the Robot Delivery Challenge, a captivating robotics competition that encourages students to program autonomous vehicles for delivering luggage in a miniature city.
To address gender disparities in the tech sector, AWS has launched GetIT, an initiative aimed at motivating girls aged 12-13 to explore careers in technology. This program invites teams from various schools to compete in app-building challenges that solve real-world problems faced by their schools or communities. In October, we piloted this initiative in Singapore, currently being conducted virtually at Cedar Girls’ Secondary School, supported by women leaders at AWS.
Collaboration is Key for Advancing Our Digital Economy
Uniting all stakeholders—educators, government, industry, and the wider community—is essential to tackle the significant challenge of ensuring organizations have access to the necessary skills for rapid adaptation, thereby working towards the creation of resilient businesses for the future economy.
We must transcend conventional business practices and establish a framework for success that allows skills to be acquired swiftly and credentials obtained promptly. To fulfill our innovation objectives and enhance our workforce capabilities, we require commitments from governments, employers, and individuals to foster a culture of continuous learning. There is vast untapped potential for those outside the tech workforce to build their digital skills, which, when combined with their existing experience and capabilities, can lead to transformative advancements in our communities and society.
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