IT Tallaght and Amazon link up to form training programme
By Maurice Garvey
IT Tallaght and Amazon have launched a new fully funded data centre technician training programme to help students develop in-demand technology skills.
The programme was launched recently, during a WorldSkills Ireland cloud computing competition at the college.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) will fund a bursary programme for 20 students, starting in September 2018, to develop skills in the latest cloud technologies and become equipped with the necessary knowledge to install, configure, maintain, secure, and repair a data centre’s hardware and networking systems.
During the programme students will have the opportunity to apply for paid internships at AWS’ data centres in Ireland.
AWS will serve as a technical advisor in the bursary programme, delivering practical training for students and providing industry experts for specialist lecture and lab sessions.
Academic credits earned on the programme also form part of IT Tallaght’s B. Sc. IT Management which allows for the students to progress to full professional level qualification through the institute’s full-time or lifelong-learning programmes.
Data Centre infrastructure continues to grow in Ireland and with each new facility comes the need for trained and highly skilled employees to make sure the technology is installed properly and running smoothly.
Realising the opportunity for local workforce development and to bring more high paid jobs to the community, IT Tallaght worked with AWS to design this new program to prepare students for jobs as data centre technicians.
The curriculum positions students with foundational IT skills needed for lucrative careers as data centre technicians, in less than a year.
Additionally, students will be able to diagnose and resolve system problems, analyse network traffic, and gain familiarity with common protocols for data centre management.
Thomas Stone, President at IT Tallaght said: “The future of Ireland, and the South Dublin region, relies heavily on our continued production of high-quality graduates capable of undertaking life-long learning in a knowledge-based society, and the new Data Center Technical Training Programme is a great example of this.
“Working with a global cloud leader, such as AWS, will give students in the Tallaght community, and across Dublin, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gain 21st century knowledge and skills needed to secure in-demand jobs, and build a career path for the future.
“We couldn’t be more excited to have the leadership and expertise of AWS to help us create this programme, the first Amazon cloud computing programme of its kind in Ireland.”
Students interested in learning more about the Data Centre Technician Programme can attend an information session at IT Tallaght on June 18.
The application period for the programme will open in September, and the programme will begin in October 2018.
TAGS Business
