First AWS-Exabytes Talent Cohort Graduates Under RM4.3 Million Programme — 108 Learners Complete Cloud Skills Initiative With 15% Securing Jobs Pre-Graduation
TLDR
- First cohort of 108 learners graduated from the AWS-Exabytes Centre of Cloud Excellence (CCoE) programme, with over 15% already securing interviews or jobs before graduation
- The programme is part of a RM4.3 million, two-year cloud and AI skills initiative jointly delivered by AWS, Exabytes, and Forward College
- Hiring partners include Exabytes, Hiredly, altSHIFT, PAIX, and Consurv Technic, with two more cohorts already in progress (271 in Cohort 2, 341 in Cohort 3)
- Programme combines cloud training, AWS certification pathways, career coaching, and the fully sponsored NitroDegree in Applied Software Engineering
AWS and Exabytes Turn Talent Development Into Measurable Employment Outcomes
Amazon Web Services (AWS), Exabytes, and Forward College have reached a significant milestone in their shared effort to build Malaysia’s cloud talent pipeline. The first cohort of 108 learners under the AWS training programme delivered through the Exabytes Centre of Cloud Excellence (CCoE) graduated on 29 June 2026 at the AWS-KUL15 facility in Kuala Lumpur, marking the first completed cycle of a broader RM4.3 million, two-year cloud and AI skills initiative announced earlier this year. The programme targets Malaysians who are unemployed, underemployed, or transitioning careers, and the early results suggest the model is working.
The headline metric is the employability rate. More than 15% of the first cohort had already secured interviews or employment opportunities before graduation, and one graduate who previously worked as an IT Executive has moved into a Network Engineer role through the programme. Hiring partners including Exabytes, Hiredly, altSHIFT, PAIX, and Consurv Technic were present at the graduation ceremony, which signals that the programme is structured to translate directly into job placements rather than just certifications. For Malaysian employers struggling to find cloud-skilled workers, the early cohort’s outcomes suggest this is a credible pipeline rather than a training-only initiative.
Built on AWS’s Survey Findings and Malaysia’s Digital Demand
The programme’s design is anchored in real labour market data. A 2025 AWS survey of 1,000 businesses on their AI ambitions revealed that only 29% of organisations feel prepared with their current skillset, and businesses said they would be willing to increase a salary offer by over 30% for a candidate with strong AI skills. Kirsten Gilbertson, Partner Organization Leader for AWS ASEAN, framed the graduation as a direct response to that gap: “Malaysia’s digital growth will depend on whether more people can move into cloud and AI-related roles with confidence and employer-ready skills. Through our collaboration with Exabytes and Forward College, we are helping more Malaysians move from potential to employability in a fast-growing digital economy.”
The timing also aligns with accelerating digital demand in Malaysia. By the end of Q3 2025, the country had recorded RM54.13 billion in approved Malaysia Digital investments, expected to create 21,815 high-value jobs, while digital exports reached RM6.8 billion across 2024 and the first half of 2025. As cloud, AI, and digital infrastructure hiring continues to grow, the CCoE programme’s employer-facing structure is what distinguishes it from typical upskilling courses.
Forward College and Exabytes on What Makes This Work
For delivery partner Forward College, the differentiator is the integration of employability support into the training itself. “This programme combines technical training with employability support in a very deliberate way. Learners are not only exposed to cloud knowledge, but also hands-on practice, career coaching and employer readiness. We are already seeing strong momentum in the upcoming cohorts, with 271 participants in Cohort 2 and 341 in Cohort 3, which reflects growing demand for structured, industry-aligned pathways into digital careers,” said Howie Chang, Co-Founder and CEO of Forward College. The growth from 108 to 341 participants across three cohorts is the most concrete signal that demand is real and the curriculum is working.
Chan Kee Siak, Founder and CEO of Exabytes, positioned the milestone as proof that the CCoE model delivers measurable outcomes. “This first graduation matters because it shows that talent development can deliver measurable outcomes when industry, education and technology partners work together with a clear employment objective. For us, success is not just about training completion, it is about opening real pathways into the digital economy for Malaysians who are ready to build new careers.” The CCoE itself was set up as a collaborative platform linking businesses, educators, and cloud providers, and the first cohort’s outcomes give the platform a real-world track record to build on.
A Second Track in NitroDegree for Software Engineering
The AWS-Exabytes initiative also includes a fully sponsored NitroDegree in Applied Software Engineering, running alongside the cloud and AI skills programme. Both tracks are designed to bridge Malaysia’s digital talent gap through structured learning, AWS certification pathways, and employment support. By offering multiple entry points into the digital economy, the initiative covers the two most in-demand specialisations in Malaysia’s current hiring market: cloud infrastructure and software engineering.
Applications for upcoming cohorts under the AWS-Exabytes cloud skills initiative remain open. Interested candidates can apply through the Exabytes Centre of Cloud Excellence portal at exabytes.my/enterprise/ccoe.
Our Take
The first AWS-Exabytes cohort graduation is worth more than the headline number suggests. A 15% pre-graduation employment rate from a single 108-person cohort is not transformational on its own, but the structural design — employer partners in the room, AWS certification built in, real cohort scaling (108 → 271 → 341) — suggests this is a replicable model rather than a one-off programme. The 2025 AWS survey finding that 29% of businesses feel prepared for AI is a stark data point, and any Malaysian initiative that can move that needle with employer-validated outcomes deserves attention.
The bigger story is the cohort growth. Going from 108 to 271 to 341 participants across three cohorts indicates real demand from Malaysian learners, not just marketing reach. For Malaysian employers, the practical takeaway is that this is a working pipeline they can tap into, with graduates already pre-screened on AWS certifications and paired with industry-aligned coaching. For job seekers, the NitroDegree’s fully sponsored model removes the financial barrier that often blocks career transitions into tech. Our recommendation: if you are an employer struggling to find cloud talent, get in touch with Exabytes CCoE to access the upcoming cohorts before graduation. If you are a Malaysian looking to transition into a cloud or AI role, the next cohort is the right time to apply, since the curriculum has been refined across three cycles and the hiring partner network is already active.
