SUPINFO Creates 5-Year Master of Engineering Degree Implementing AWS Education Programs

Based in France, SUPINFO is a private institution of higher education and a member of IONIS Education Group. Cloud computing is an integral part of SUPINFO’s master of engineering degree program and for good reason. Driven by digital transformation across various industries in Europe, the United States’ $35 billion cloud computing market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent between 2020 and 2028. Additionally, the French government announced a €1.8 billion support plan for the nation’s cloud computing sector to keep the country competitive on a global scale.

While creating the master of engineering program, SUPINFO wanted to tap into the potential of the cloud and equip its students with skills that are in high demand among potential employers. Seeking a hands-on solution, it engaged AWS Education Programs and implemented several AWS Academy courses into its master of engineering curriculum. Additionally, SUPINFO provided opportunities for students to earn AWS Certifications, which validate technical skills and cloud expertise. To facilitate the launch of the degree program, the AWS team assigned a technical program manager to train SUPINFO educators quickly, helping them prepare to teach students by the program’s start date.

SUPINFO’s master of engineering degree program officially launched in 2020, with approximately 200 students enrolled per year. During the program, students take several courses through AWS Academy. Second-year students take AWS Academy Cloud Foundations, an introductory course intended for students who seek an overall understanding of cloud computing concepts. In their fourth year, students take AWS Academy Cloud Architecting, an intermediate-level course that covers the fundamentals of building IT infrastructure on AWS.

In addition to teaching valuable cloud skills through these mandatory courses, SUPINFO’s program provides students with the option to earn industry-recognized AWS Certifications. For example, AWS Academy Cloud Architecting teaches students the skills that they need to pursue AWS Certified Solutions Architect–Associate. This AWS Certification validates the ability to design and implement distributed systems on AWS. Students have also earned AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, which validates cloud fluency and foundational AWS knowledge.

As part of this program, students also gain real-world work experience because SUPINFO requires students to participate in internships with employer partners. “After their first year, students will begin their internships by working with our employer partners for 3 days a week, then another 2 days at school,” says Paul-Antoine Kempf, an educator at SUPINFO. “This approach is central to the education at SUPINFO. By giving students opportunities in development-related jobs, it trains them and helps develop confidence with the latest cloud platforms and tools.”

To provide practical, hands-on experiences for students, SUPINFO uses tools from AWS Academy Learner Labs. These lab environments provide opportunities for educators to bring their own assignments and invite their students to get experience using select AWS services. “Being able to manipulate and experiment with tools on AWS is the most constructive approach to learning,” says Kempf. “All the classes have AWS Academy Learner Labs built in, and it is the reason why the program has been so successful.”

SUPINFO students have significantly improved their employability and are better prepared for the cloud workforce by participating in the master of engineering program. By earning AWS Certifications, students can demonstrate their cloud expertise to future employers. They can also apply the skills that they learned through their internships and AWS Academy Learner Labs activities to their future roles, streamlining their transitions from school to the workforce. “SUPINFO’s master of engineering curriculum offers a comprehensive approach to cloud education,” says Lounes Behloul, a student at SUPINFO. “Aside from connecting students to potential employers and helping us gain work experience, I appreciate the hands-on nature of the activities. The ability to take the tools that I learn at school then immediately apply them to my job in the future is invaluable.”

By implementing AWS Education Programs into its master of engineering curriculum, SUPINFO is preparing future cloud talent with the skills that they need to succeed in the growing industry. The school currently has six AWS-accredited educators on its board and plans to upskill more instructors as the program expands. 

SUPINFO will also increase specializations within the curriculum, especially for fourth- and fifth-year students. The institution will also expand its adoption of AWS Education Programs to complement these specializations, further demonstrating its commitment to building a highly skilled, well-trained cloud workforce of the future.