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Miami Dade College (MDC) has been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for nearly $600,000 to fund the development of new, advanced technical programs in cloud computing and help close the skills gap in this in-demand field. The programs will create a pathway for underrepresented populations to enter or re-enter the workforce with highly specialized skills.
The NSF grant will support three years of funding for the implementation of MDC’s Emerging Cloud Hub Opportunities (ECHO). Building on the efforts of the current NSF Dade Enterprise Cloud Initiative grant, ECHO will develop advanced cloud certificates in cloud-related areas, such as DevOps and Data Analytics, and leverage the college’s existing partnerships with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, IBM and Google to strengthen MDC’s academic offerings leading to academic credentials, industry certifications, and ultimately employment.
ECHO also will implement advanced professional development training for MDC technology faculty members to teach the new cloud computing courses.
The grant will support students in the completion of the new programs. Additionally, an annual Cloud On-Demand Series summit will be held for faculty, students, community leaders and employers to network and learn about cloud technology trends and opportunities.
“Advancing regional cloud computing knowledge and skills is significant for MDC students to accelerate their careers,” said Prof. Lawrence E. Meyer Jr., principal investigator.
As part of this project, MDC’s School of Engineering and Technology (EnTec) already is developing a Business Industry Leadership Team (BILT) to identify knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by “right-skilled” future graduates. BILT engages dedicated local and national cloud experts to evaluate required job skills, ensuring a future-ready workforce. BILT will also help connect MDC cloud graduates and local cloud-based companies to cultivate and invest in diverse talent.
“With businesses moving rapidly to cloud, this opportunity could not have come at a better time,” said Dr. Elodie Billionniere, co-principal investigator of the grant.
MDC currently offers an Associate in Science and college credit certificate in cloud computing. To learn more, visit www.mdc.edu/cloudcomputingcenter.
