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Invest Vancouver and Amazon Web Services Collaborate to Enhance Tech Sector Job Training in Metro Vancouver
Tuesday, September 28, 2021Company Profile | Follow Company
Vancouver, BC, September 28, 2021--(T-Net)--Invest Vancouver announced today an agreement in principle with Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, to create a workforce development initiative that will prepare thousands of Metro Vancouver residents for well-paying jobs in the region's growing tech sector, helping to attract high-tech firms to the area.
The initiative will strengthen Metro Vancouver's status as a cloud hub and will increase skilled job opportunities and prepare residents for jobs in fields such as:
Metro Vancouver will be the first region in Canada to introduce the regional training initiative that is based on a successful AWS program currently running across 100 community colleges through the California Cloud Workforce program.
Since its launch in 2018, the program has provided thousands of learners with access to training that has led to employment in California's high-tech sector.
Sav Dhaliwal, Chair of the Invest Vancouver Management Board and the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors
"Invest Vancouver identified a gap between high-tech sector employers seeking to fill positions and qualified candidates looking for work within the region, but there are barriers that keep people from entering the industry and upgrading their existing skills," said Sav Dhaliwal, Chair of the Invest Vancouver Management Board and the Metro Vancouver Board of Directors. "One key solution is to offer coordinated and equitable access to existing training at secondary, post-secondary and non-profit institutions that aligns with the evolving needs of industry. This new collaboration does just that."
Invest Vancouver and AWS will launch initially in Metro Vancouver with select post-secondary and non-profit institutions to help participants conveniently access training for some of the most in-demand tech sector careers, such as in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data analytics.
For its part, Invest Vancouver will act as a regional convener to facilitate collaboration with industry, educational and non-profit institutions to:
This initiative with AWS squarely aligns with Invest Vancouver's goal to advance economic mobility within the region by fostering achievable career pathways for all residents; this includes creating opportunities for affordable and accessible training in careers that are at low-risk of automation and in high demand by the industries that are driving the region's economy.
Announcement at the #AWSSummit in Washington D.C.
AWS is supporting the program by offering resources such as access to AWS education programs, job skills mapping for relevant cloud-based jobs, as well as professional development for educators, curriculum collaboration, and free AWS account credits for students.
"Creating education-to-employment alignment is a key objective of both AWS and Invest Vancouver, who will collaborate to promote this opportunity in the Metro Vancouver region," said Coral Kennett, head of educational programs for AWS Canada, based in Vancouver. "My team looks forward to working hand-in-hand with Invest Vancouver, secondary and post-secondary institutions, industry and non-profits to address the gap in cloud education and provide targeted education opportunities."
As part of this initiative, Invest Vancouver and AWS have engaged the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to support and promote the collaboration. Tasked with provincial strategic workforce development, BCIT is a critical player in the post-secondary system and, along with non-profit education organizations and the secondary system, will be critical to the initiative's success.
Dean Hildebrand, Dean of the School of Computing and Academic Studies at BCIT
"BCIT is keen to explore opportunities with industry that can help augment and support the current, traditional secondary and post-secondary education ecosystem in meeting demand from the tech sector," said Dean Hildebrand, Dean of the School of Computing and Academic Studies at BCIT. "BCIT is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion, and always aims to increase accessibility, whether through high-tech credentials, microcredentials, or new MOOCs (free online learning courses)."
About Invest Vancouver
Invest Vancouver is an economic development leadership service provided through Metro Vancouver Regional District to position the region for success in a rapidly evolving global economy. Our purpose is to amplify opportunity and propel prosperity for all residents of the Metro Vancouver region.
Our mandate covers three areas of activity:
o Attracting strategic investment
o Conducting economic research and policy analysis, and
o Fostering collaboration
We will be doing this by:
o Working directly with global investors to facilitate business investment and expansion into our region
o Informing economic development decision-making with cutting-edge data analytics and comprehensive market intelligence
o Advising leaders on sound economic development strategy and policy to enhance our region's global competitiveness
o Fostering regional economic development collaboration to position our communities and people to prosper amidst our changing economy
o Promoting and showcasing the industry advantages and opportunities our region has to offer to the world.
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