Preparing the Next

Generation of
Cloud Engineers
5 best practices for
higher education institutions

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Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 1
Why do students need cloud skills?

Labor shortages are an area of serious concern across all industries globally, and the cloud computing
sector is no exception. In 2019, the U.S. had nearly 1 million unfilled IT jobs, many of which require
proficiency in the cloud—and that number has expanded during the pandemic. In India, experts anticipate
2 million job vacancies in the cloud sector by 2025. Meanwhile, China is expecting 10 million vacancies in
its tech sector over the next four years, with more than 1.5 million of those jobs in cloud engineering alone.
Despite rapid growth in the industry and ample opportunities for students, few higher education institutions
teach the cloud computing skills that students need to be employable in the field.

If cloud skills are so critical, why aren’t more higher education institutions prioritizing this subject? Roy
Mathew, national practice leader of Deloitte Consulting’s higher education practice, believes that in part,
higher ed institutions do not have the resources to teach these skills. “The need for these skills appeared so
quickly—in a matter of a decade—and our education system still hasn’t learned how to train for them,” he
writes. Sam Kroonenburg, CEO of A Cloud Guru, agrees. In a recent article for Forbes on teaching cloud
skills, he writes: “[One] hurdle to cloud learning is that, logistically, it’s not easy to teach. The cloud toolkit
changes daily, and universities aren’t set up to evolve courses that rapidly.”

Cloud is a high-growth market with untapped potential—and it’s vital that higher education institutions tap
into this space to attract today’s students. As Vitaly Klopot, chief commercial officer at Arden University in

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 2
England, says in his piece about adapting to job trends, “Only the institutions that are ahead of the game with a
desire to put education technology at the heart of everything they do will survive.”

Although it requires a shift in how higher education institutions approach their technology curriculum, teaching Cloud is a high-growth market
cloud skills is a worthwhile endeavor for higher education institutions committed to preparing their students for with untapped potential—
the future.
and it’s vital that higher
In this e-book, we’ll share five best practices higher education institutions can adopt to prepare students for entry- education institutions tap into
level jobs in cloud engineering—including relying on online learning partners with deep knowledge in the field of
this space to attract today’s
cloud. With these best practices, higher education institutions will be better equipped to help students acquire the
in-demand cloud skills and hands-on experience required for success in this burgeoning field.
students. Despite rapid growth
in the industry and ample
opportunities for students, few
higher education institutions
teach the cloud computing
skills that students need to be
employable in the field.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 3
Integrate skills-based online learning
into your curriculum

When teaching cloud engineering, the key to success is a flexible, skills-first approach to learning that
encourages students to customize their coursework to fit their career goals. To ensure programs are
adaptable, some higher education institutions choose to collaborate with online learning partners rather than
create their own academic discipline in cloud engineering from scratch. This approach is called curriculum
integration and makes it easier for departments and professors to keep their content current.

Via curriculum integration, instructors can use online courses to help address curriculum gaps or help round
out their course catalog, either by incorporating online coursework into existing classes on campus or offering
online content as a standalone course. These courses should cover the critical skills students will need for
success in cloud professions, including:

Familiarity with cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS),

Knowledge of operating systems and computer networking concepts

Experience with data security frameworks

Knowledge of DevOps and microservices technologies, like Kubernetes

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 4
Alongside curriculum integration, some higher education institutions are also relying on job-based learning
programs like Coursera’s SkillSets, which train students for targeted roles in tech. For example, if a student
wants to become a “cloud-proficient engineer,” Coursera identifies the skill proficiencies the student will
need for that role and suggests courses that align with their goals. Some institutions are even opting to
According to one study by the
grant employer-issued credentials as part of a new, career-focused trend in higher education. Courses like Project Management Institute,
AWS Fundamentals and DevOps on AWS prepare students for certification in the AWS Cloud. Author Sean more than 70% of companies
Gallagher writes: “These employer-issued credentials…are increasingly being woven into college curricula
are implementing Agile
through partnerships with postsecondary institutions, stacked into degrees, and integrated into new
pathways to jobs for traditional students and adult learners.”
approaches at least some of
the time.
Online coursework complements core college curricula to ensure students have access to the latest technical
skills. Many students enjoy the flexibility that comes with learning online—since the onset of COVID-19, nearly
75% of students have reported that they prefer to take at least some of their classes virtually.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 5
Train students on foundational cloud methodologies
According to one study by
the Project Management
Technical students need cloud-specific skills to succeed—but higher education institutions shouldn’t
overlook the importance of teaching the theoretical principles that underpin cloud engineering. Learning
Institute, more than 70% of
frameworks like Amazon’s Working Backwards methodology, human-centered design, and Agile will companies are implementing
prepare students to think like cloud engineers and to adapt as technologies evolve. Agile approaches at least
These foundational methodologies will also help students stand out in the job market. According to some of the time. Among
one study by the Project Management Institute, more than 70% of companies are implementing Agile those businesses are dozens
approaches at least some of the time. Among those businesses are dozens of Fortune 500 companies, of Fortune 500 companies,
including Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco.
including Microsoft, IBM,
While methodologies like Working Backwards, Agile, and human-centered design aren’t technical skills, and Cisco.
they do lay the groundwork for critical ways of thinking that students will need to succeed in the field of
cloud. They are also easy to build into your curriculum. For example, online learning partner Coursera offers
a course on Agile Product Development from the University of Virginia and an introductory course on
Human-Centered Design from UC San Diego.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 6
Provide students with opportunities to
learn on the job and earn career certificates

For technical fields like cloud, students need to be able to apply their skills in a real-world environment.
Many higher education institutions are now partnering with tech companies and startups to help students
acquire the work experience they need to build careers in cloud engineering.

Two universities that have found success through these work-study programs are George Mason University
in Virginia and the University of Bahrain (UOB). At George Mason, faculty worked alongside AWS Educate
curriculum designers to design a Bachelor of Science degree that will provide students both technical
knowledge and hands-on experience in the field. Similarly, UOB recently launched both a bachelor’s degree
in cloud computing and a one-year cloud computing certificate program—the first degree of this kind in the
Middle East. UOB worked with AWS Educate’s Cloud Degree initiative to design their program, which will
prepare students for various jobs in the AWS Cloud and beyond.

Along with certificates or diplomas that demonstrate their cloud experience, programs like these encourage
students to learn by doing. By partnering with tech companies, students get to work on real projects with
real clients. For example, students at the Bahrain Polytechnic Cloud Innovation Center recently worked
directly with the local Ministry of Works to enable chatbots as a customer service solution during COVID.
This hands-on approach allows them to build a portfolio of work they can show future employers.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 7
Programs like Coursera Labs can also help students build a strong skills portfolio with hands-on
experiences. With Coursera Labs, students complete hands-on projects on popular cloud-based software,
either as a standalone project or as part of a course. Students who complete real-world projects like these
will hone both the technical and human skills they need for success in the tech industry, like project By partnering with tech
management, communication, and collaboration. companies, students get to
work on real projects with
real clients. This hands-on
approach allows them to build
a portfolio of work they can
show future employers.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 8
Build pathways—via mentorship and networking—
for diverse talent to enter the tech industry By building relationships
with tech companies and
offering relevant coursework,
A 2018 study from the National Center for Women & Information Technology reports that women hold only higher education institutions
26% of technology positions in the United States. Those figures are even lower for women of color, who
hold only 4% of tech positions, despite making up around 16% of the population. Those numbers are
can become intermediaries
slightly higher in places like India, where women make up around 34% of the tech workforce, but there is between diverse students
still work to do to build a more diverse global tech industry. interested in the cloud
Higher education institutions can help bring more diverse talent into the field of cloud by supporting and companies looking for
and recruiting students from all backgrounds into cloud engineering programs. By offering mentorship new talent.
opportunities and work-study programs, like the ones mentioned previously, higher education institutions
can help students from underrepresented backgrounds make connections in the tech industry. Institutions
don’t need to be located in a tech hub to build these connections—in fact, a recent article from Harvard
Business Review notes that many tech companies are looking to fill the current talent gap by expanding
their geographic reach during recruitment. By building relationships with tech companies and offering
relevant coursework, higher education institutions can become intermediaries between diverse students
interested in the cloud and companies looking for new talent.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 9
Instill a love of lifelong learning

Finally, it’s critical for higher education institutions to foster a love of lifelong learning in their technical
students. This philosophy underpins all learning institutions—but cloud students in particular need to be
prepared to continually upskill during their careers. With new technologies emerging every day, like edge,
advancements in AI, and multi-cloud, students need to be ready to keep learning long after receiving their
diploma—whether they are working toward a certificate 10 years down the road or simply participating in
regular work training to stay up to date on new cloud capabilities.

Teaching students frameworks like agile will prepare them to keep changing and growing throughout their
careers. Human skills like time management, active listening, problem solving, and creativity will also help
students stay ahead of the technology curve. Students should also consider honing their online learning
skills so they will be prepared to embrace remote and hybrid professional development opportunities that
are becoming increasingly common in the tech industry and beyond.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 10
Helping students fill the tech job gap
Coursera is the global online
learning platform that helps
In the same article from Forbes, Sam Kroonenburg writes: “Like it or not, cloud computing is consuming
higher education institutions
the IT landscape, and in five to 10 years, I believe cloud will be the fundamental underlying infrastructure for
all of IT. For students facing a tough job market and interested in pursuing technology careers, investing in a
enhance student employability
university degree should set them up for success.” and modernize their
Investing in cloud curriculum might be a solution that helps higher education institutions maintain a
curriculum. Because Coursera
competitive edge. By building cloud into the curriculum, higher education institutions can demonstrate their is built on AWS, we can provide
commitment to innovative technical education and improve job outcomes for their students. Cloud is the online training programs at
future of IT—and it might offer a way for higher education institutions to future-proof themselves, as well. scale—with cutting-edge,
flexible learning options that
appeal to today’s learners.
To learn more, visit our
website here.

Preparing the Next Generation of Cloud Engineers 5 best practices for higher education institutions 11
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