Empowering Students with Cloud Skills: An AWS Pilot for Real-World Learning at UC

In an exciting pilot project, the University of Canterbury launched an AWS cloud infrastructure sandbox, designed to empower students in the DATA472 Data Engineering course to explore, build, and self-manage cloud-based solutions. Through hands-on experience with AWS services, students developed in-demand skills, from deploying serverless applications to managing scalable infrastructure, mirroring real-world environments.

This pilot prioritized both innovation and safety, with collaborative development of security guardrails that allowed students the freedom to experiment within a protected environment. Weekly workshops and a feedback loop between UC Digital Services, AWS engineers, and students further ensured that learners were supported and engaged, providing critical insights into cloud technology’s role in higher education.

The project represents UC’s commitment to leveraging emerging technologies and big data analytics to enhance educational outcomes while building UC’s capacity for delivering cloud-based resources. This presentation will delve into the unique challenges, strategies, and educational outcomes of the AWS pilot, offering a model for integrating cutting-edge technology into curriculum design.