Source: globenewswire.com | Originally published: February 28, 2020
UCI Continuing Education Partners with AWS Academy
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) Division of Continuing Education (DCE) announced its participation in AWS Academy, an Amazon Web Services program designed to equip students with the skills and credentials required to enter the cloud IT workforce. Beginning in spring 2020, students gained access to a structured curriculum covering core AWS concepts and a direct preparation pathway toward industry-recognized AWS Certifications.
What AWS Academy Offers Students
AWS Academy provides higher-education institutions with a ready-to-deliver cloud computing curriculum developed and maintained by AWS subject matter experts. The program ensures course content stays aligned with current AWS services and evolving best practices. Courses are delivered by AWS Academy-accredited educators who receive direct training from AWS before teaching.
For students, the program offers a structured on-ramp into cloud computing roles without needing prior enterprise IT experience. Graduates leave with both hands-on knowledge of AWS services and preparation for a globally recognised certification exam.
AWS Cloud Foundations Course at UCI DCE
At UCI, the initial offering was the AWS Cloud Foundations course, delivered fully online from April 13 through June 7, 2020. The course was added as an elective within UCI DCE’s Database Management Certificate Program. Topics covered included:
- Fundamental cloud concepts and terminology
- Core AWS services (compute, storage, networking, databases)
- Security and shared responsibility on AWS
- Cloud architecture principles
- AWS pricing models and support plans
The course also served as direct preparation for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, a vendor-neutral foundation-level certification widely recognised by employers hiring for cloud roles.
Why Cloud Skills Matter for IT Professionals
Cloud computing continues to be one of the fastest-growing segments of enterprise IT. Organisations across industries are migrating workloads to platforms such as AWS, creating sustained demand for professionals who can architect, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure. Entry-level cloud certifications signal to employers that a candidate understands the fundamentals of a specific platform and can contribute from day one.
“IT professionals with cloud skills are in high demand, and we’re proud to help advance training and learning opportunities for students at UCI,” said Scott McKinley, AWS Academy Global Team Lead. “With AWS Academy, students will be equipped with the practical skills they need to add value in their first cloud role.”
Quotes from UCI Leadership
“We are proud to make AWS Academy curriculum available to our students,” said Stephane Muller, Director of Business & Technology Programs, UCI Division of Continuing Education. “Cloud computing is an emerging field globally, and the technical skills that students develop through this course will position them well to meet industry needs in next-generation technologies.”
About UCI Division of Continuing Education
The University of California, Irvine Division of Continuing Education provides lifelong learning opportunities to thousands of students worldwide each year. The Division offers a broad range of certificate programs, specialised studies, and sequential courses through online, on-campus, and on-site delivery. UCI DCE is also a participant in the open education movement, offering free Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) through the UCI Open initiative. More information is available at ce.uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine
Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the Association of American Universities and is located in Orange County, California. At the time of this announcement, the campus enrolled more than 36,000 students across 222 degree programs and is Orange County’s second-largest employer.