Embedding Vendor Certifications in the Cloud Computing Curriculum: Scope, Strategy and Perceptions

A series of previous Working Groups has met at ITiCSE conferences to explore ways of incorporating cloud computing into courses and curricula, including mapping industry job skills to knowledge areas (KAs) and KAs to student learning objectives (LOs). The importance of industry-standard learning content and certification, produced by cloud vendors and others, was apparent throughout this work. This Working Group will focus on the role of certification within cloud computing curricula, from the viewpoints of a range of stakeholders: students, graduates, institutions, vendors and other certification providers; and employers. Areas for study will include: the scope of available certifications and their mapping to our KAs and LOs; approaches to integrating certification in academic cloud curricula, and challenges involved in doing so; and perceptions of the stakeholders of the role and value of certifications in evidencing employability. The outcome of the work will include a set of recommendations for best practice

Toward Developing a Cloud Computing Model Curriculum

Cloud Computing is a rapidly evolving field that is triggering a wave of innovations in various domains such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. Cloud skills are becoming essential for any technology-related profession. Furthermore, the accelerated adoption of cloud technologies by industry is increasing the demand for cloud-trained professionals. Thus, higher education institutions are offering training opportunities and programs in cloud computing, however, the lack of well-rounded and high-quality curricular materials continues to be a challenge for educators. A 2018 Working Group (WG) created a report that --among other artifacts-- described fourteen Knowledge Areas (KAs), with numerous Learning Objectives (LOs) for each KA, to teach cloud concepts. Expanding on that work, this WG will focus on providing a collection of resources that would eventually constitute a model cloud curriculum. By relying on two particular surveys: one that looks at the existing curricular offerings, and another one that maps knowledge areas to job titles in cloud computing, we plan to provide a dynamic and configurable curricular exemplars repository for the cloud community-at-large, following the popularity of hands-on, project-based learning methodologies as our primary focus