NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) is collaborating with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide a certification program in cloud computing starting at four of its institutions this fall.
The AWS Academy program offers cloud computing curricula that CSCU instructors can use to train students with the skills needed to purse careers in technical fields, CSCU officials explained.
According to AWS, cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet. In other words, a cloud provider allows users to access IT services such as storage and databases when needed.
This fall, Asnuntuck, Housatonic, Manchester and Three Rivers Community Colleges will be providing the program, CSCU President Terrence Cheng said.
About 20 faculty members across those community colleges have started instructor training to begin delivering courses to students, he said.
"The program will expand to the rest of the community colleges in our system, including Gateway [Community College], throughout the spring and summer of 2022," Cheng said.
Upon completion, program graduates will receive AWS certifications.
Any person looking to gain or enhance technical skills in cloud computing is welcome to participate in the program, he said, including CSCU students.
However, CSCU students are not able to take the AWS courses for degree-related credit.
Efforts to make it possible for CSCU students to pursue AWS certifications as part of their degree will be discussed in the near future, Cheng said.
However, the non-credit course certification is industry-recognized which, he explained, allows individuals to "immediately partake in the workforce."
“This initiative is an important step toward ensuring our residents are prepared for high-tech, 21st century jobs, and that our employers have access to the skilled employees necessary to compete and thrive," Governor Ned Lamont said.