Amazon has announced the launch of a new training programme to help 29 million learners across the globe develop in-demand tech skills by 2025.
Building on last year’s pledge to invest US$700m to upskill 100,000 Amazon employees, the cloud computing skills programme seeks to address the digital skills gap and future-proof an increasingly digital workforce.
Open to applicants from all backgrounds and abilities, the training will be offered free of charge across more than 200 countries and territories.
The initiative will be delivered via existing Amazon Web Services (AWS) programmes along with new, specifically-designed courses. They include self-paced online offerings created to advance technical skills, and intensive upskilling programmes that provide a route to new jobs in tech professions.
As part of the initiative, Amazon has pledged to:
- Build a library of more than 500 free courses, interactive labs and virtual training sessions
- Continue to invest in free training to help people gain AWS Certification
- Expand the AWS re/Start programme to help people from underrepresented groups and disadvantaged backgrounds transition to tech roles
- Pilot brand-new training programmes.
“For many years, I have been talking with business and government leaders about how we can work together to bridge the technical skills gap,” writes Teresa Carlson, vice president of worldwide public sector at AWS. “In these conversations, we all agree about the importance of democratising knowledge and giving all individuals—regardless of their background, education, or social status—the opportunity to build technical skills. That’s why today at re:Invent 2020, I announced that by 2025 Amazon Web Services (AWS) will help 29 million people globally grow their technical skills with free cloud computing skills training.”
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