Organizations across all sectors are struggling to keep up with a rapidly evolving ecosystem of cloud and infrastructure services. The demand for leaders and professionals with cloud computing expertise and the ability to evaluate and integrate appropriate services based on an organization’s needs is at an all-time high.
The UBC Certificate in Cloud and Technology Transformation is a part-time business-oriented program with technical and non-technical learning pathway options that equips learners with the key competencies to create and lead a cloud transformation strategy that drives organizational change.
Developed by industry experts with input from UBC faculty and UBC IT leadership, this 190-hour interactive online credential helps you expand on specific skills and knowledge acquired in the required micro-certificates and your chosen learning pathway to come away with a full-picture understanding of your organization’s cloud transformation journey.
- Format: 100% online and instructor supported with real-time sessions, with select courses offered as self-paced online study
- Duration: Five or six courses of four to eight weeks each, complete the program in approximately six to eight months or take up to two years
- Cost: $350–$1,300 per course, $4,000–$6,200 for the program
Additional Details
What This Program Offers
The UBC Certificate in Cloud and Technology Transformation helps you identify strategic cloud transformation gaps and cost-saving adaptations for cloud and AI solutions. You will develop the skills to contribute to your digital transformation strategy to help drive organizational change.
By the end of this program, you’ll be able to:
- Identify strategic cloud transformation gaps
- Apply cost-saving adaptations for cloud operations
- Leverage emerging technologies
- Create a transformation strategy for faster adaptation and accelerated delivery of value
- Participate and lead projects related to design, strategy and implementation of organizational cloud infrastructure
- Make critical decisions on incorporating AI cloud service solutions
- Understand cybersecurity fundamentals to increase network security
- Incorporate a robust governance and compliance framework
Who This Program is For
This program is designed for:
- Leaders and professionals, from business and operational managers to financial teams and IT specialists, who need the tools and expertise to plan and implement cloud or digital transformation projects
- Data, systems, and solutions architects, tech and business consultants, UI/UX designers, project managers and systems administrators with a desire to take on more responsibility and be involved in developing business strategies related to the cloud
A background in technology or coding is not required to enroll in our courses.
Program Costs
Courses cost $350–$1,300. The total cost of the program is $4,000–$6,200, depending on which learning pathway you choose for the electives.
All fees are in Canadian dollars and subject to change. Fees are subject to GST where applicable. Fees may be paid by Visa®, Visa® Debit, Mastercard®, American Express®, money order or certified cheque.
For details on financial support options, please see Financial Assistance.
For details on UBC’s payment policies, please see Refunds, Cancellations and Transfers.
Total Program Costs
Program Courses and Dates
The certificate program offers several learning pathways and consists of five to six courses total. Four courses are required, and the final one or two courses are determined by which of the learning pathway options you select.
Learners who have already completed the existing UBC Micro-certificate in Cloud Transformation and Technology Infrastructure Strategy and the UBC Micro-certificate in AI Cloud Solutions Strategy can use those credentials to ladder into this certificate.
How This Program is Delivered
This part-time program is 100% online and instructor supported with a combination of real-time classes and independent study. Two elective courses are 100% online and self-paced. The Ethical Hacking Certification Training elective is instructor supported with weekly live Q&A sessions with subject matter experts.
The real-time sessions allow for a high degree of personal engagement and interaction with your instructor and visiting subject matter experts. These virtual classes are recorded for later viewing.
Outside of class, you can access online materials on your own time. Each week, review readings and videos, apply your knowledge in exercises and case studies, contribute to a discussion board and connect with other students.
If you select AWS Academy courses for your electives (Learning Pathway Options 2 and 5), please note that these courses are 100% online and self-paced. Once you register, you can access the materials anytime and progress through the course at your own pace for up to 12 months.
Expected effort
Expect to spend approximately five to seven hours per week completing all learning activities, including attending the real-time sessions.
Textbooks and materials
There are no textbooks required for this program. All course content is provided in the online learning management system.
Technology requirements
To take this program, you need access to:
- an email account
- a computer, laptop or tablet, using Windows or macOS
- the latest version of a web browser (or previous major version release)
- a reliable internet connection
- a video camera and microphone
Assessment
You are assessed on successfully completing weekly activities, including your contributions to discussion posts and applied case study projects (based on real-life scenarios). These activities are marked using a proficiency scale, and your instructor provides you informal feedback in the live sessions.
While you’re not assessed on your attendance of the real-time sessions, we encourage you to attend so you don’t miss the opportunity to learn and interact with your instructor and other participants. All sessions are recorded in case you miss one.
Obtaining your certificate
When you’ve successfully completed two required micro-certificates and one learning pathway, complete the certificate request form and pay the certificate application fee of $175 to obtain your certificate by mail.
Program Instructors
Our program instructors and developers are experts with extensive industry and adult education experience.
Ricardo Trujeque, Course Author and Instructor, is a versatile entrepreneur and passionate educator whose 20-year career intersects technology, communications and education. Ricardo focuses on next-generation educational content and experiences. He has co-founded several software as a service (SaaS) companies that span digital media content distribution, marketing automation, language assessment, disaster resilience assessment and, currently, immersive environments for training and education.
Kelly Shiohira, Course Co-Author, is a Director of the Global Science of Learning Education Network and a prominent strategist recognized for her work in areas of literacy, connecting education to the world of work, and the use of AI and Technology in Education. Kelly has worked on large-scale projects and works across the value chain of planning, implementation and monitoring, and evaluation to design, deliver and evaluate educational interventions.
Dr. Simon Bates, Course Co-Author, is the UBC Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning, and Chair Associate of Pacific Rim Universities: University of the Future working group “How GenAI will enable, challenge and disrupt Higher Education.” Simon has facilitated numerous discussions around GenAI and its impact on teaching and learning in HESA’s AI Observatory round table community meetings which focuses on AI Policies in Canadian Post-Secondary Education.
Dr. Natalie Lao, Course Co-Author, is an Executive Director of the App Inventor Foundation. Dr. Lao's research on databases, AI, ML, and educational frameworks has been featured by MIT News and UNESCO. Natalie also serves as Individual Specialist for UNESCO's AI & the Futures of Learning project.
ANTHONY GREEN, Course Author and Instructor, is the Manager of Security Operations and Compliance at Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC), where he leads the team responsible for CPABC’s security program. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from the British Columbia Institute of Technology with majors in network security administration and human computer interface.
Lawrence McDaniel, Course Instructor, is a full-stack web developer and business analyst with expertise in financial modelling, analytics, machine learning and big data. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas with majors in computer science and mathematics, and minors in physics and English.