Junta de Andalucía Creates First-of-Its-Kind Cloud Computing Curriculum Using AWS

Spain’s technology environment has been growing quickly. Venture capital investment year-over-year in 2021 grew by nearly four times. Since 2015, the Spanish startup environment has grown five times in value. Cloud computing was among the top three technologies Spain-based companies were looking to adopt in 2020 according to the World Economic Forum. With the rise in digitalization in Spain, the regional government of Andalusia saw an opportunity to help prepare its residents for promising careers in IT.

The Regional Ministry of Education and Sports under the government of Andalusia is in charge of all public education up until the secondary level as well as vocational training for the region. The governing body had an IT curriculum as part of its public education system, but the curriculum featured dated technologies, and Junta de Andalucía wanted to prepare students better for jobs in the digitalized market. In 2021, Junta de Andalucía signed a collaboration protocol with AWS to promote training initiatives and digital transformation across the region. This collaboration is the first regional agreement of its kind in Spain. “We are excited to be a pioneer region in Spain working alongside AWS in this program to meet the highly skilled technology employment needs of employers and to offer pathways for cloud computing careers for students in our region,” says Javier Imbroda Ortiz, regional minister of education and sports for Junta de Andalucía. As part of the collaboration, Junta de Andalucía is using AWS Academy, which empowers higher education institutions to prepare students for industry-recognized certifications and careers in the cloud. AWS Academy is a cornerstone of the collaborative curriculum that Junta de Andalucía designed.

The first step for Junta de Andalucía in aligning its IT curriculum with content from AWS Academy was providing educators with specific cloud training provided by the AWS Education to Workforce team. The educators enrolled as students in the AWS Academy Cloud Foundations course, which provides a detailed overview of cloud concepts, AWS core services, security, architecture, pricing, and support. These educators also had access to five weekly office hours led by the AWS Education to Workforce team. Educators were also given access to the AWS Academy Introduction to Cloud Educator Guide, several video modules, and additional weekly office hours offered for AWS Academy questions. Over 700 educators across Andalusia received this training to teach using AWS Academy. “As educators, we want to equip our students with the latest cloud computing skill sets,” says Juan Carlos Amaya Ríos, professor at IES Campanillas and one of the vocational trainees. “The collaboration with the AWS team and the practical elements within AWS Academy create an immersive learning experience that helps students learn skills to meet local industry demands.” Junta de Andalucía wanted to provide students with the tools they need for success, and AWS Academy provides important hands-on experiences to students, including experience using AWS services.

For students taking the new IT technical vocational degrees, the curriculum will begin with cloud computing fundamentals in the first year. The second year will provide advanced cloud computing skills and prepare students for AWS Certification, which validates students’ technical skills and cloud expertise to grow a student’s career, helping to strengthen a student’s résumé and increase employability.

Providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a digitalized business environment is a priority for Junta de Andalucía. The governing body plans to introduce the curriculum it designed alongside AWS to 6,000 students across 105 schools in Andalusia by 2023. The curriculum will continue to support the students beyond 2023 and prepare them to be the next generation of cloud computing professionals. The collaboration between Junta de Andalucía and AWS will also include steps to improve the digital transformation of the private sector and the digitalization of public administrative services. Students, startups, and small businesses in the region all stand to gain from increased access to advanced technology services on AWS.