Closing the Cloud Skills Gap with Learner-Centric Performance Support Experiences

Case Study: IBM Center for Cloud Training

Abstract

Spurred by the urgent need to respond to a growing worldwide technology skills gap, the IBM Cloud Skills Initiative, launched in 2019, today plays an important role in supporting IBM’s commitment to provide people with the skills needed to fill the jobs of tomorrow. The IBM Center for Cloud Training (ICCT) serves as a critical learning resource for helping achieve the initiative’s goal of closing the global cloud skills gap. Through an innovative training program launched in October 2020, ICCT offers Performance Support Experiences (PSEs) designed to motivate and support learners and facilitate their achievement of program credentials and their pursuit of IBM Cloud certification. With PSEs that include online, real-time, and customized study support, ICCT surpassed its stated goal of credentialing participants by the end of 2022. The primary purpose of this article is to describe the components of the program and outcomes achieved and in so doing demonstrate the value of the center’s PSE-based approach to learning.