AWS Introduces the Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 06/13/23

A consortium of companies, government agencies, and educational institutions have joined forces with Amazon Web Services in the new Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance. The effort aims to align university and college curricula with entry-level career skills in software engineering, cloud support, and data integration.

AWS plans to give 380,000 students access to these training programs.

Five regions have been initially selected to focus the Tech Alliance's efforts: the states of Illinois, New York, and Washington; and two countries, Spain and Egypt. But the Alliance expects to expand to other areas soon, according to Amazon.

The Tech Alliance is basing its training development and implementation on the needs of employers, who will be "talent shapers" that collaborate with educators and learners to build tech skills. Collaborators designed and approved skills maps and participated in creating curricula, including "capstone projects," internships, apprenticeships, and hiring events for participating colleges and universities, according to the company. Learners will have hands-on training and support in real-world experiences.

A recent Gallup study noted that 72% of U.S. businesses are having trouble finding job applicants with qualified digital skills. Eighty-seven percent of U.S. employers use the cloud, and another 8% are planning to, the study found.

"As technology continues to advance, employers have a role to play in supporting education, as leaders ensure learners are developing the latest skills," said Kim Majerus, vice president of global education, U.S. state and local government at AWS. "I'm excited about the positive impact the Tech Alliance will bring, allowing learners to connect directly to future employers, enabling more skill-based learning environments, and increasing access to expert resources for educators."

Visit this page to learn more about this initiative.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

Featured

  • illustration of a futuristic building labeled "AI & Innovation," featuring circuit board patterns and an AI brain motif, surrounded by geometric trees and a simplified sky

    Cal Poly Pomona Launches AI and Innovation Center

    In an effort to advance AI innovation, foster community engagement, and prepare students for careers in STEM fields and business, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona has teamed up with AI, cloud, and advisory services provider Avanade to launch a new Avanade AI & Innovation Center.

  • black graduation cap with a glowing blue AI brain circuit symbol on top

    Report: AI Is a Must for Modern Learners

    A new report from VitalSource identifies a growing demand among learners for AI tools, declaring that "AI isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must."

  • glowing shield hovers above a digital cloud platform with abstract data streams and cloud icons in the background

    Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz

    Google has announced it will acquire cloud security startup Wiz. If completed, the acquisition — an all-cash deal valued at $32 billion — would mark the largest in Google's history.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Introduces Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has launched a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.