Howard University announced Wednesday a new collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build pathways to cloud computing careers.

Through this effort, students at the leading historically Black college and university (HBCU) will access a curriculum that is developed in coordination with AWS experts to prepare students for the workforce.

“Howard’s collaboration with AWS is focused on empowering students at various levels to learn and master the skills needed for a cloud career, exposing them to exciting opportunities throughout their educational experience,” said Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anthony K. Wutoh in a statement.”

In addition, Howard University and AWS will ensure students access a job board with early-career roles and internships at Amazon, its customers, and partners. Amazon leaders will also share information about company culture, leadership, and career paths.

AWS will support hackathons and pitch competitions with sponsorship, prizes, and technical workshops to help students prepare as start-up and tech founders. Students can also access content focused on Amazon’s culture of innovation as part of the Bison Startup and introduction to engineering classes.

“Amazon launched the Howard Entertainment Program to build the next generation of entertainment industry executives,” said Kim Majerus, director of US Education, State and Local Government at AWS. “As we expand our collaboration, AWS is excited to support talented and ambitious Howard students on their cloud career journeys. Howard University is a lighthouse institution not far from Amazon’s HQ2 facility, and we are preparing students not just for potential jobs with our company, but in-demand cloud positions across industries and sectors that need skilled technical talent.”

AWS will provide Howard University educators with professional advancement and specialized skills training aligned with Howard Forward 2024, which will cover artificial intelligence, big data, machine learning, cybersecurity, how to build an Alexa skill, and more.

Howard University will integrate cloud computing concepts from AWS Educate into new and existing higher education curriculum, giving students access to foundational cloud computing courses, and advanced technical topics such as machine learning and computer vision.

AWS Training and Certification programs, such as AWS Educate, provide students and educators with cloud computing curriculum resources and learning experiences that allow education institutions to create or adapt programs of study to align to in-demand cloud careers.

With the support of AWS experts, Howard University is creating a new master’s degree program focused on data science and will integrate cloud concepts into other areas of study, including business, computer science, and engineering.

As this initiative progresses, Howard University will introduce its Middle School of Mathematics and Science students to computational thinking skills and cloud fundamentals. This collaboration will bring industry experiences into the classroom to help shape the next generation of Howard University leaders in the tech industry.