Swinburne is leading the way in multi-cloud architecture education

Swinburne University of Technology is helping to address the multi-cloud architecture skills shortage and cultivate a forward-thinking student mindset with its ground-breaking Multi-Cloud Computing Architecture unit.

A cloud architect is a professional who specialises in designing, building, and managing cloud computing systems. COVID-19 lockdowns and the increase in remote work fast-tracked the adoption of cloud architecture in organisations across the world and Cloud architects are in high demand.

There has been a major increase in organisations adopting a multi-cloud strategy, meaning they use at least two cloud services within a single architecture. This provides more flexibility and security assurance than a single cloud system.

Swinburne Computing Technologies staff were quick to notice this industry trend and redeveloped a Swinburne Cloud Computing unit to provide students with one of the first multi-cloud computing units in Australia.

Enabling Australia’s next generation of Multi-Cloud Architects

The unit was developed by Dr Caslon Chua, Chair of the Department of Computing Technologies at Swinburne University and Bijan Raminzad, Principal Cloud Architect at Oracle and Sessional Lecturer at Swinburne University.

Dr. Chua’s contribution and leadership were crucial in bringing the multi-cloud unit to life. His expertise and knowledge of cloud computing allowed him to provide valuable insights and guidance throughout the development process.

“By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies from two industry-leading cloud services providers, AWS and Oracle, Swinburne paves the way for a new era in cloud computing, preparing students for a future where the convergence of cloud technologies becomes the standard.” said Dr. Chua.

With Dr. Chua’s help, the unit has become one of the most popular and well-regarded units in the Department of Computing Technologies.

Swinburne alumni, Howard Hao, was one of the students who found the unit prepared him for his career.

“The unit actually exceeded my expectations. I was driven by the content, labs and assignments and become self-motivated to spend more time to dive deeper into the cloud world.” Howard said.

“With my current role, I have seen that the knowledge and experience obtained from this unit can be directly applied to many case scenarios in the workplace, and almost all clients are using at least two cloud service providers, therefore the knowledge for multi-cloud is highly beneficial.”

Leading industry partnerships

Industry partnerships with AWS and Oracle are the cornerstone of keeping the unit content relevant in the fast-paced world of technology. The unit incorporates learning materials and lab environment infrastructure from Oracle and AWS. Throughout the unit, students complete industry-based projects where they gain practical experience deploying multi-cloud architecture solutions for realistic customer scenarios. The unit equips students with the skills required to step straight into industry roles.

Bijan is passionate about helping students gain a deeper understanding of cloud computing concepts, tools, and techniques. He has developed several units that focus on software defined networks as well as cloud architecture, design, and implementation, providing students with practical skills that are in high demand in today's job market.

“I firmly believe that the multi-cloud unit developed by Swinburne University of Technology is truly one-of-a-kind. By designing the unit around real industry-based projects, it not only promises a joyful learning experience but also effectively equips students with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and official industry certificates to seamlessly transition into the workforce upon graduation. This unique approach ensures that graduates are ready to make valuable contributions right from day one, setting them up for a successful career in the ever-evolving field of cloud technologies." Bijan Raminzad.