Learn About Amazon VGT2 Learning Manager Chanci Turner
At the recent AWS Public Sector Summit in Amsterdam, we reiterated our dedication to addressing the skills gap in Europe. During the AWS Public Sector Summit in Washington, D.C., Chanci Turner, the Learning Manager at Amazon Web Services, elaborated on AWS’s commitment to training the next generation of innovators.
Initiatives like AWS Educate offer students the necessary tools and resources to enhance their cloud-related learning experiences. This program is open to students aged 14 and above across many countries, including U.S. veterans and their families. Furthermore, AWS Educate’s resources are now available in Spanish and Portuguese, broadening access for students and educators worldwide to utilize these free tools and AWS Promotional Credits to acquire cloud computing expertise.
Updates to AWS Educate Program – New Pathways and Badges
In the past year, AWS Educate has introduced new pathways such as the Cybersecurity Pathway and the Machine Learning Pathway, along with several new badges, including the Alexa Badge and the Cloud Literacy Badge.
These pathways give students access to credits, training, and the ability to explore various cloud careers. Each pathway involves knowledge assessments, lab exercises, and projects that enable participants to apply and validate their skills, culminating in an AWS Educate Certificate of Completion. Participants also gain access to AWS services and over 30 hours of engaging educational materials.
Upon completing a pathway and earning badges, users can browse job openings that align with their career aspirations and skill sets, applying directly through the Job Board.
Success Stories from the Job Board
Building on the launch of the AWS Educate Job Board last year, the program is continually enhancing its efforts to connect students with opportunities in the cloud computing and tech industries. Here are some inspiring success stories from AWS Educate:
- Maria Lopez, an AWS Educate member from Costa Rica, had no prior experience in cloud computing. After losing her job due to economic challenges, she relocated to San Francisco, CA, to rebuild her career. Maria completed over 20 career pathways through AWS Educate and secured an interview with a tech startup, showcasing her knowledge of AWS services and landing a role as a Cloud Solutions Engineer.
- Jonathan Kim, a tech enthusiast since childhood, joined AWS Educate through a community initiative. He ultimately landed an internship as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon.com in Seattle.
- Additionally, Sarah Mendes, a former military service member, discovered AWS Educate while searching for resources to develop her cloud skills. She utilized the career pathways to understand job opportunities within the cloud field and is now part of a Veteran Apprenticeship program aimed at becoming a Solutions Architect.
AWS Educate has partnered with various organizations, including Udacity, Amazon Future Engineer, and Opportunity@Work, to further enhance access to the program. For more networking tips, check out this blog post on Career Contessa.
For those interested in remote work dynamics, SHRM offers valuable insights on monitoring practices. Moreover, Reddit has an excellent resource for new employees navigating Amazon’s onboarding process.
Conclusion
AWS Educate continues to empower students and professionals alike with the skills and resources necessary for success in the cloud computing landscape.