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Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of American tech giant Amazon, has partnered with Kenya’s Information Communication Technology (ICT) to train 10,000 students yearly in cloud computing.

The program, to be conducted at AWS Academy, will enable higher education institutions to prepare students for industry-recognized certifications and careers in the cloud, with ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum beginning in June.

Educators will also be trained to stay at the forefront of AWS cloud innovation to equip students with the skills they need to secure jobs in one of the fastest-growing industries.

Upon completing the program, students will be equipped with practical cloud skills to work in entry-level tech roles.

According to LinkedIn data, cloud computing is one of the top hard skills that companies need as cloud adoption accelerates worldwide.

Speaking during the announcement at Connected Kenya 2023, ICT Authority Chief Executive Officer, Stanley Kamanguya said the program aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry in line with the ICT Digital Masterplan 2022-2032.

“The master plan identifies a lack of alignment with industry needs by universities and colleges, a gap that the program intends to address,” Mr Kamanguya said.

Aunally Maloo, the chief executive of Computer Learning Centre (CLC) Africa, said the education firm, an AWS Training Partner in East, West, and South Africa, will deliver AWS training on foundational and associate levels to educators enabling them to deliver AWS Academy to 10 public universities across Kenya.

AWS aims to work with organizations, education institutions, and governments to upskill, reskill, and prepare individuals for high-quality jobs, with a focus on creating a more inclusive industry that prepares learners from all backgrounds to become the builders of tomorrow.

To connect students with employment opportunities, AWS is partnering with Gebeya, a Pan African start-up that hosts a custom platform on AWS, accessible online to all citizens who want to pursue technology career paths and find jobs. Gebeya aims to train and certify at least 5,000 students within the first year, providing an integrated platform that connects top-tier tech talent with exciting companies like AWS.

Robin Njiru, the Regional Public Sector Lead for West, East, and Central Africa at AWS, said the program seeks to equip students with the skills needed to get jobs in one of the fastest-growing industries and support the Government of Kenya in realizing a digitally-enabled society, a key outcome in the ICT Digital Masterplan 2022-2032.

Job opportunities in the cloud computing sector entails cloud administrator, cloud support engineer, cloud security analyst, cloud network engineer, cloud software engineer, cloud automation engineer, cloud engineer, cloud consultant, cloud data scientist and cloud architect.