With the rapid expansion of cloud technology, both large enterprises and small businesses are relying less on costly physical equipment and more on “virtual” databases to store information more efficiently. To support the growing demand for qualified cloud professionals, Miami Dade College has partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS), the industry leader in cloud-computing solutions, to provide an academic gateway for the next generation of IT and cloud professionals.
“I’m very excited that we are bringing this emerging technology to MDC,” said Antonio Delgado, dean of MDC’s School of Engineering, Technology and Design. “Cloud computing is among today’s most important industries because it’s quickly becoming part of the day-to-day for every company.” Students interested in exploring cloud computing as a career option can now enroll in a new Cloud Essentials course at MDC, InterAmerican Campus, for an introduction to the basic principles and concepts of cloud computing. MDC will also launch a new credit certificate in Cloud Computing, as well as an Enterprise Cloud Computing track within its existing Associate of Science in Networking next spring.
To meet one of the most in-demand skills for IT technicians in cloud computing, Dr. Elodie Billionniere, Associate Professor at InterAmerican Campus, received a National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education grant in partnership with Amazon Web Services for developing and implementing a new educational pathway in enterprise cloud computing. While the program is of course, open to all students, the partnership has the potential to increase the number of certified cloud computing technicians from underrepresented minority groups.
To ensure it continues to offer students the highest standard of training, MDC and the AWS Academy provided cloud computing training for 11 faculty members over the summer, allowing them to earn certifications – including the AWS Cloud Architect, among the industry’s highest distinctions. Students were concurrently trained for the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification.
“Faculty were able to engage with AWS technical experts throughout the training. Such engagement was very helpful for subject explanation and real time scenarios,” said Billionniere. “Furthermore, students’ interaction with industry experts provided useful information about job opportunities careers in the cloud computing field.”
For the 2019-2020 academic school year, MDC is scheduled to launch a new Associate of Science in Cloud Computing, as well as to open the College’s first Cloud Computing Academy to provide training for both MDC students and members of the community.
“We’re very proud that MDC is establishing itself as a leader for cloud computing education and training, not just here in South Florida but on a national level,” Delgado said.
Interested in this study program?
Contact the academic advisor:
Idaleidis Valdes
ivaldes1@mdc.edu
305-237-6484