In an exciting development, Education Dive has recognized the collaboration between Virginia institutions, including George Mason University (GMU), Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and AWS Educate, as the recipient of the Higher Ed “Partnership of the Year” award. This accolade celebrates their joint efforts to establish a comprehensive cloud degree pathway, offering both two- and four-year programs.
Education Dive, a leading digital platform dedicated to the education sector, annually honors the most forward-thinking initiatives shaping the future of education through its Dive Awards. This award further amplifies the momentum of AWS Educate’s Cloud Degree initiative. Recently, governors from Louisiana, Virginia, and Texas have pledged to partner with AWS Educate to integrate cloud curricula spanning from K-12 to higher education, with initial international implementations announced in locations such as the United Kingdom and Bahrain.
In 2018, NOVA collaborated with AWS Educate to develop an associate’s degree featuring a cloud computing specialization. AWS Educate contributed valuable instructional design support, curriculum development frameworks, and access to industry experts, enabling students to gain practical experience with cloud computing tools. “AWS Educate created a platform for innovation and validated the significant student interest in this program,” stated Thomas Reid, NOVA’s provost of information and engineering technologies.
Building on this foundation, GMU found it a “natural decision” to expand NOVA’s offerings by introducing the third and fourth years of coursework for students. In June, GMU proudly announced the launch of its bachelor’s degree in cloud computing. “We are truly reaching the diverse community we aim to serve, including students from all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses,” remarked Emily Carter, Associate Dean and Professor at GMU. “So why not extend [cloud education] to those students as well as to our freshmen?”
Ken Eisner, director of worldwide education programs at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and head of AWS Educate, emphasized the importance of creating robust pathways for students: “Students must progress to higher levels of achievement, whether they’re transitioning directly from school or doing so over time. Our aim is to ensure students are well-prepared for both workforce entry and continued education.”
For further insights on AWS Educate and its initiatives, you can read more at this blog here. Additionally, for an authoritative perspective on this topic, check out this resource. If you want to explore career opportunities in this area, this link provides an excellent resource.
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