- AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2018 ignites a drive for cloud competency among students and educators
- First large-scale training event boosts cloud computing interest, and inspires educators and students in the Philippines
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has recently concluded AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2018, its large-scale technology skills training event geared towards empowering the next generation of the IT workforce in cloud computing skills, part of its commitment to boost IT innovation and competency in the country. The four-day event gathered hundreds of graduating tertiary students, recent graduates, and educators at the SMX Aura Convention Centre in Bonifacio Global City, from June 4 to June 7.
AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2018 featured close to 30 hours of learning including instructor-led training, hands-on practice using AWS Cloud services with AWS Promotional Credits, and a hackathon (a cloud skills competition) for participants to solve a set of challenges related to real-life scenarios. Five teams topped the Hackathon: team Dragon Nesteam from PayMaya won first place; team Bah with students from Adamson University, University of Caloocan Pamantasan ng Cabuyao, and University of the East – Manila took second place; team Pocket Wifi with students from STI Colleges, University of the East Caloocan, and Far Eastern University attained third place; and team FEU TECH 1 from FEU Institute of Technology ranked fourth place. A special prize for coming up with the “Best Team Name,” was awarded to DayJuan, for their Filipino touch on the famous Amazon mantra, “At Amazon, every day is Day One.”
AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2018 also featured a job fair on the fourth day. This provided students the opportunity to meet with hiring companies, such as Accenture, Valueline, Remax, Stratpoint, MDi Novare Technologies, Unionbank, Titanium Technologies, E Science Corporation, Quad X, Coins.ph, Robsinsons Retail, Jollibee Worldwide Services, ABS-CBN Recruitment, Max Group Inc., Abojeb, Security Bank, E cloud, Voyager Innovations, Philippine Airlines, BDO, Metrobank, Sunlife, Multisys and Cebu Pacific.
Reactions to AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2018
“The past three days was a really amazing experience!”, shared the winning team – Team Dragon Nesteam’s Nestor Gramata. “All the lectures were very informative and relevant. The lab activities were taught step by step. I’m fortunate to be part of this. Learning more about cloud computing keeps me updated with recent technological developments, helps me improve my practice and grow my career in the IT industry.”
Educators and students who attended the four-day event welcomed the opportunity to further improve their understanding about the potential of cloud technology. “The experience was really inspiring. AWS makes everything easier and secure,” said William Harry Ampon, an Instructor from Technological University of the Philippines. “As a teacher, I want AWS integrated into my classroom and I want young Filipinos to learn cloud computing. This has inspired and empowered me to teach cloud computing to my students.”
Justin Orbon, a fourth year student at AMA Computer College Binan said, “This event was definitely a life-changer as it opened a lot of opportunities and paths to us beginners and others who seek to try out cloud computing. Most importantly, it was inspiring!”
Another student, Nico Teves, a fourth year student of Mapua University said, “The AWS event had a great impact on me as a graduating computer engineering student because it gave me the opportunity to learn more about technology, especially the cloud, and use some of the services provided by AWS and apply it to solve a real life problem. In addition, all the speakers inspired me to be better at my chosen field and to seek more knowledge on the latest emerging technologies. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the AWS Siklab Pilipinas 2018, where they put cutting-edge technology in our hands and all we have to do is grasp it. I’m really hoping to have a career working with AWS Cloud.”
“Those who have attended the AWS Siklab Pilipinas event are going to be at the forefront of emerging technology, making them the kind of people we want in our company,” emphasized Mary Rose dela Cruz, Stratpoint’s CEO and one of the nation’s earliest users of AWS. “We supported the event because we are looking for people who are passionate about technology, who use technology to solve real-world problems, and also those with an entrepreneurial spirit. We believe that’s when innovation happens — when entrepreneurship meets technology. We need that to advance the Filipino and impact the country.”
