Amazon Web Services has launched its third AWS Skills Center in Cape Town, South Africa. This centre will be Amazon Web Services’ first centre outside the US.
In a statement, AWS said The skills centre aims to dedicate in-person learning space “designed for anyone who is curious about cloud computing and career possibilities in the industry.”
“Anyone in the local community — regardless of background, education level or social status — can explore how cloud computing technology is powering everything from weather predictions to smart homes,” the company said.
According to the 2023 World Economic Forum “Future of Jobs” report, organisations identify 60% of respondents in skills gaps and 53% with an inability to attract talent as key barriers preventing industry transformation.
According to a Benjamindada.com report, “over 75% of these organisations plan to adopt technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence in the next five years.”
Currently, there are only three AWS Skills Centres in the US: in Seattle, Washington and Arlington, Virginia. South Africa will serve as the fourth AWS skill centre and the first one outside the US.
Maureen Lonergan, Vice President, AWS Training and Certification said, “AWS is committed to removing barriers for people to access the skills training they need to grow their careers. The Cape Town region is ripe with talent, and upskilling the workforce can play a key role in driving innovation, catalysing economic growth, and accelerating digital transformation across South Africa.”
Tanuja Randery, MD of AWS in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, told TechCentral in a post-launch interview in Cape Town, “It is exciting that we have chosen South Africa as the location of our first international skills centre. We want to make sure that we demystify tech, and the skills centre is about opening that world up to young South Africans.”
Randery said the company invested “R30 billion” and hopes to use International Convention Centre to supplement the growth funded by the investment. “We aim to train 60 000 people in the next two years”, she said.
