First international AWS Skills Center opens in Cape Town, South Africa

Today, we cut the ribbon on our first international AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, South Africa, furthering our mission to remove the barriers of access to cloud skills training. The center is designed to deliver free training that helps nontechnical learners build new cloud skills and unlock career options for in-demand tech jobs.

By providing an in-person learning space for anyone in the local community—regardless of background, education level, or social status—AWS is helping to create a diverse pipeline of entry-level cloud talent across the region.

The new AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, South Africa offers free, interactive classroom training.

AWS invited local community leaders, education partners, government dignitaries, and job seekers to tour the facility and explore how the cloud is impacting their daily lives. Premier Alan Winde, Provincial Minister Mireille Wenger and MMC James Vos joined AWS leaders Maureen Lonergan, Tanuja Randery, and Rashika Ramlal for the grand opening ceremony to celebrate the value this new center offers to the region.

“We look forward to working with AWS to bring powerful training resources to the citizens of South Africa. By investing in our people and their future, we are also investing in South Africa’s future and advancing our stature in the global economy,” said Alan Winde, Premier of Western Cape.

“AWS is committed to removing barriers for people to access the skills training they need to grow their careers,” said Maureen Lonergan, Vice President, AWS Training and Certification. “The Cape Town region is ripe with talent, and upskilling the workforce can play a key role in driving innovation, catalyzing economic growth, and accelerating digital transformation across South Africa.”

Essential resources to build a skilled cloud workforce

The new Cape Town facility is specifically designed to expand workforce development programs and transformation strategies in the local community. One of the primary objectives is to level the playing field through free education initiatives for nontechnical workers, helping to meet the growing need for skilled cloud talent.

According to the 2023 World Economic Forum (WEF) “Future of Jobs” report:

• Organizations identify skills gaps (60% of respondents) and an inability to attract talent (53%) as the key barriers preventing industry transformation.
• 60% of workers will require training before 2027, but only half have access to adequate training opportunities today.
• Over 75% of organizations plan to adopt technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence in the next five years—driving a surge in demand for individuals with these skills and creating approximately 2.6 million new jobs by 2027.

To help meet the demand for cloud talent, AWS has trained more than 100,000 people in South Africa on cloud skills since 2017. This figure includes free and paid training.

Continued investment in free cloud training

In addition to supporting the South African community, AWS Skills Center Cape Town is helping to fulfill Amazon’s goal of providing free digital skills training to 29 million people around the globe by 2025.

AWS’s free training offerings range from on-demand, self-paced courses to cohort-based workforce-development programs.

The new AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, South Africa features immersive exhibits where visitors can explore real-world cloud applications.

Interactive exhibits, classroom training, and community events

Cape Town is the third AWS Skills Center to open, joining facilities in Seattle, WA and Arlington, VA. Each facility features a wide range of cloud training and career exploration activities that are free of charge and open to the public.

Each space is designed to engage visitors by showcasing how cloud technology is powering everything from weather predictions to robotics. Visitors learn by participating in a variety of fun and interactive experiences:

• The Cloud Discovery Space includes immersive exhibits that reveal how the cloud supports gaming, machine learning, cyber security, space exploration, and more.
• Both in-person and virtual participants can take live, instructor-led training from AWS experts to learn cloud computing fundamentals.
• Learners can leverage training and resources to prepare to earn an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification, validating their skills and enhancing their employability with an industry-recognized credential.
• The center also offers career coaching and hosts networking events with local employers and workforce development organizations to connect workers with job placement opportunities.

Learn more about AWS Skills Center

Learn more about the AWS Skills Centre Cape Town—including hours of operation and a calendar of events—and sign up for free classes. If you have additional questions, email aws-skills-center-capetown@amazon.com.

AWS Skills Centre Cape Town
57 Heerengracht Street
Cape Town City Centre, South Africa