MANILA -- Recognizing Filipino talents, global cloud computing firm Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched its first cloud computing skills training in the Philippines on Monday for free.
"This is the first in the world. The Philippines has a big population. There are many smart young people, and we don't want the students to miss out on opportunities," Peter Moore, AWS regional managing director, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The four-day technology skills training event is dubbed "Siklab Pilipinas" and gathered some 800 students and 200 teachers from local higher education institutions at the SMX Aura in upscale Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, Metro Manila.
The technology event aims to enhance the students' skills in cloud computing, which is in high demand among companies, said Vincent Quah, AWS regional head for Education, Research and Not for Profit Worldwide Public Sector.
The activity does not just target skills development, but also re-acquainting the local workforce with the technology, as educators are also made part of the event.
The entire training, which will run until June 7, will consist of nearly 30 hours of lectures, hands-on practice of AWS cloud services, and a hackathon, during which, participants will be given sets of challenges related to real-life scenarios.
Quah told the PNA that the training is for free, and that the Amazon.com subsidiary had opened the opportunity to anyone interested.
"We have partnered with the PSITE (Philippine Society for IT Educators) to coordinate with universities and gather the students and educators, who are interested (in availing of this training)," he said.
The AWS has also partnered with various companies to hold a job fair to offer cloud-related job opportunities during the event.
The cloud computing firm also cited International Data Corp. Philippines' prediction that companies are now moving toward digital transformation.
"By the end of 2021, IDC predicts that more local enterprises will be pushed to re-skill employees and upscale jobs, to meet the demands of an increasingly borderless economy," the AWS said.
Both Quah and Moore said AWS doesn't have a plan yet if the activity will be staged again, on a yearly basis, for instance.
They said the firm will get feedback from the participants. If the event will be successful, the two said AWS will consider staging this again, and even in other countries, too. (PNA)
