Whitecliffe is now an AWS Academy member institution, approved on 10 April 2026. AWS Academy is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) programme that provides higher education institutions with a ready-to-teach cloud computing curriculum, hands-on labs, learning resources and teaching materials, developed and maintained by AWS.
For Whitecliffe’s Faculty of Information Technology, this marks a meaningful step in strengthening the connection between academic learning and current industry practice. Through AWS Academy, Whitecliffe faculty will be able to deliver AWS Academy courseware that helps students build practical skills through hands-on experience in the AWS Cloud, with lessons grounded in real-world industry scenarios.
Students will benefit from exposure to globally recognised AWS learning content and pathways that can help prepare them to pursue industry-recognised AWS Certifications. These learning opportunities are designed to support employability and help students develop the practical cloud skills needed for a fast-changing technology sector.
For Whitecliffe staff, AWS Academy membership creates opportunities for professional development, access to teaching resources and closer alignment with current cloud and technology practices.
For Prof Dr Muhammad Azam, Programme Head, Faculty of IT at Whitecliffe, the membership is a valuable addition to the School of IT’s teaching and learning resources.
“Creating meaningful learning experience for our students is at the core of the Faculty of IT. By embedding AWS Academy resources into our programmes, we are enabling hands-on engagement with industry-standard tools, empowering students to develop strong technical capabilities and real confidence in applying their knowledge.”, he said.
Dr Fay Amaral, Chief Executive Officer at Whitecliffe, said the development supports Whitecliffe’s broader focus on preparing students for the growing technology sector.
“This partnership with Amazon Web Services Academy reinforces Whitecliffe’s position at the forefront of cyber security and cloud computing education. By embedding globally recognised AWS curriculum and certification pathways into our programmes, we are equipping our students with highly relevant skills that industry is actively seeking, both in New Zealand and internationally.”, said Dr Amaral.
“AWS Academy invests in higher education to bolster the worldwide talent supply chain, building a bridge between industry and academia. We’re proud to support Whitecliffe as it cultivates graduates with the real-world, in-demand skills to pursue cloud careers,” said Chris Ott, Global Program Lead, AWS Academy.
The AWS Academy membership supports Whitecliffe’s wider focus on applied learning and industry-relevant IT education. Whitecliffe is committed to delivering future-focused, industry-relevant IT programmes across areas such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, data, artificial intelligence, software development and applied technology.
About Whitecliffe
Whitecliffe is Aotearoa New Zealand’s highest-ranked and awarded institution in the private education sector and is a long-standing Category One Private Training Establishment, established in 1984. It is known for its fine art, fashion, jewellery, design and information technology education.
