Professional Development: Amazon Web Services

Robert Morris University is the first university in Pennsylvania to adopt Amazon Web Services’ AWS Academy program, a curriculum that teaches students cloud computing architecture, propelling them toward Amazon Web Services certification. 

Cloud computing is a platform that allows companies to store and support various business operations, an alternative to costlier upfront investments in hardware. By familiarizing students with Amazon’s cloud computing architecture, RMU is attempting to prepare students for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect-Associate certification exam, which is a highly lucrative and in-demand skill.

“AWS Academy speaks to our commitment to help employers eliminate a skills gap in the local workforce,” said Derya Jacobs, RMU vice president for corporate relations and senior vice provost. “More importantly, it will give our own students valuable skills and knowledge to advance their own careers.”

A recent study by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development suggests a coming shortage of IT professionals in Pittsburgh. The study, “Inflection Point: Supply, Demand and the Future of Work in the Pittsburgh Region,” noted that supply and demand in IT jobs is mismatched. It predicts that over the next decade, IT jobs will grow 11 percent, or 2.6 times faster than the market.