The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will add free cloud computing and artificial intelligence courses from Amazon Web Services (AWS) to its online learning platform under an agreement signed on Sept. 29.
Tesda secretary Kiko Benitez and AWS Philippines country manager Precious Lim signed the Strategic Training Agreement at the Tesda Complex in Taguig City.
The courses will be accessible through the Tesda Online Program (TOP), with no prerequisites or course fees.
The initial offerings include Fundamentals of AI, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, and AWS Certified AI Practitioner.
Fundamentals of AI introduces machine learning concepts and AI applications and requires no prior technical background. The Cloud Practitioner course covers AWS services, security, architecture, and pricing, while the AI Practitioner course covers responsible AI, generative AI, and the use of AWS AI services.
“Skills development is ultimately about creating opportunities for people. Through this collaboration with AWS, we are giving Filipinos access to world-class cloud and AI training that they can use to build careers, pursue new opportunities, and contribute to the growth of our digital economy. Gusto nating masigurado na walang Pilipinong maiiwanan habang nagbabago ang mundo ng trabaho,” Benitez said.
The AWS courses will be integrated into Tesda’s learning management system, allowing learners to take them directly through TOP.
Learners who complete certification-track courses may enroll at the Tesda Women’s Center for AWS Academy’s structured learning pathways, subject to availability. They may also qualify for vouchers to take AWS certification exams.
Voucher eligibility, availability, and any applicable limits will depend on Tesda and AWS policies. Completion of the free courses does not automatically confer AWS certification.
“Cloud and AI skills should be for everyone. Through this partnership with TESDA, we’re making world-class training available to every Filipino, whether they’re starting their career or embarking on a new one. When you remove the barriers of cost and access, you give an entire generation the tools to build a better future for themselves and their communities,” Lim said.
The agreement follows AWS’s support for TOP during the Covid-19 pandemic, when cloud deployment helped Tesda expand the platform to accommodate increased demand for online learning.
Tesda plans to add AWS courses on cloud architecture, security, databases, and other technology subjects. It also intends to expand training pathways, hold regional training events, and integrate more AWS content into its technology institutions and provincial training centers.
“At TESDA, we believe that skills transform lives. Ang cloud at AI ay hindi lang para sa mga nasa tech industry — ito ay para sa lahat ng Pilipino na gustong magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan. This collaboration with AWS ensures that learning goes beyond the classroom and translates into real career opportunities, sustainable livelihoods, and a stronger, more competitive Filipino workforce,” Benitez said.
