Online Microcredential in IT & Computer Science

AWS: Machine Learning Foundations

Develop highly sought-after skills to design and deploy machine learning models on the cloud with the AWS Academy.

Created by

The Open UniversityThe Open University

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In collaboration with

AWSAWS

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Prepare for a career in machine learning engineering

Machine learning is one of the most rapid and evolving growth areas in technology today. It’s becoming increasingly important to businesses and in our everyday lives, creating a huge demand for skilled professionals. 

That’s why the ability to design and deploy machine learning models on the cloud is a sought-after skill set. On this microcredential, you’ll learn the fundamentals of machine learning to help you keep pace with this growth, upskill, and help advance your career.

Learn how machine learning works using Amazon Web Services

This microcredential is designed to help you pursue a career in machine learning engineering.

It will introduce you to the concepts, terminology, and processes of machine learning so that you gain a comprehensive understanding. It’s ideal if you’re a beginner and want to learn the fundamentals of machine learning on AWS.

Become confident in selecting and applying machine learning services using Amazon SageMaker

By the end of this 10-week microcredential, you’ll be capable of implementing a machine learning pipeline using Amazon SageMaker.

You’ll learn how to resolve business problems as you understand how to use managed AWS machine learning services for forecasting, computer vision and natural language processing, and to evaluate the limits of machine learning models and their ethical implications. You’ll also know how to label, build, train, and deploy a custom machine learning model using AWS services.

You’ll access your learning via FutureLearn and by setting up a free account on the AWS Academy’s platform. Throughout the course, you’ll take part in weekly activities to support and consolidate your learning. At the end of the course, you’ll submit an assessment which is marked and graded by academic experts from The Open University.

Develop your machine learning expertise with The Open University in collaboration with the AWS Academy

Designed by leading experts from The Open University’s AWS Academy, you’ll develop industry-recognised skills and gain insights from experts to put the concepts into practice.

Through guided academic learning in a supportive online learning environment, you’ll have mentor support and share thoughts and experiences with other learners – helping you launch your AWS Certification journey and career in cloud computing.

What skills will you learn?

  • Deploying machine learning models
  • Reflecting on the ethical challenges of machine learning
  • Hyperparameter tuning for model optimisation
  • Using machine learning for computer vision
  • Using machine learning for natural language processing
  • Using machine learning for forecasting

What you will achieve

By the end of the microcredential, you’ll be able to...

  • Describe machine learning
  • Implement a machine learning pipeline using Amazon SageMaker
  • Use managed AWS machine learning services for forecasting
  • Use managed AWS machine learning services for computer vision
  • Use managed AWS machine learning services for natural language processing
  • Critically evaluate the limits of machine learning models and their ethical implications

Are you eligible for this microcredential?

To study this undergraduate microcredential you will ideally have:

  • General IT technical or business knowledge
  • Experience of scripting with Python, JSON or equivalent
  • A basic understanding of statistics

You don’t need prior experience or qualifications to enrol on this microcredential.

In preparation, if you don’t have basic understanding of Python, JSON or other programming language we recommend The Open University’s free OpenLearn short course Simple Coding. Or if you aren’t familiar with basic cloud computing concepts, we recommend the AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials course.

Is this microcredential right for you?

This microcredential would benefit anyone working in a comprehensive range of globally relevant Digital Technologies disciplines related to cloud computing, including: 

  • Data Scientist
  • Machine Learning Engineer
  • Applied Science Researcher 
  • Machine Learning Developer

The course material does not assume that learners are currently working. Past experiences will be just as relevant.

The course has a global focus and delivers transferable skills for diverse sectors and organisations.

Syllabus

What happens before, during, and after your microcredential

  • Before learning

    You’ll have access to our online welcome area where you’ll be able to read any information relating to your microcredential.

  • Course

    From 23 Oct 2023

    AWS: Machine Learning Foundations

    Develop highly sought-after skills to design and deploy machine learning models on the cloud with the AWS Academy.

    10 weeks

    10 hours per week

  • After learning

    Your submitted assessment will be marked and graded by academic experts from The Open University. You’ll continue to have ongoing access to the course materials.

What you will receive

10 UK credits at Undergraduate level from The Open University and a Certificate

Academic credits are awarded on passing the final assessment. These will be at undergraduate level 5 of the Framework for Higher Education (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) / level 8 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. 

Find out how credits work and where you can use them in our FAQs.

A Certificate of Completion from AWS Academy

Learn more about this organisation

What is a microcredential?

Microcredentials are designed to upskill you for work in rapidly-growing industries, without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Your microcredential can stand alone as an independent credential, and some also offer academic credit to use towards a degree.

Learn online with expert instructors

Complete online courses led by experts over multiple weeks with a dedicated group of professionals.

Complete project-based assessments

Test your understanding with online tutor-marked assessments and exercises.

Earn a professional credential

Finish your learning and pass your assessments to gain an accredited credential.

Advance further in your career

Use your microcredential as evidence of your specialised skills and progress further in your industry.

Career-focused learning by The Open University

As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.

  • Established

    1969
  • Location

    Milton Keynes, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020

This microcredential is in collaboration with AWS

The AWS Academy provides higher education institutions with a cloud computing curriculum that prepares students to pursue industry-recognised certifications and in-demand cloud jobs.

Delivered by experts

Enthusiastic about teaching digital, network engineering & cybersecurity - been doing it for a very long time. Also: iconoclast, herder of geeks, nerds & enthusiasts.

Dr Amel Bennaceur is an engineer, researcher, and educator in Computing. She is an Associate Professor at The Open University. She published 30+ papers in top journals and conferences.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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"FutureLearn courses are always interesting and informative. They bring the classroom right to you and send you on a journey to explore new ideas and offer interesting topics."

When would you like to start?

Enrolment for this microcredential is closed. We aim to run our microcredentials every few months. Register to find out more about this microcredential and future start dates.

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    FAQ

    We can accept payments made by card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or PayPal via our online system.

    You will have 14 days from the day the course starts to apply for a refund. If this Microcredential has any non-refundable costs they will be stated in the ‘Overview’ section above. You can find more information in our cancellation and refund policy.

    Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and timezone.

    There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards if you aren’t online for the live broadcast.

    No, microcredentials are designed to be taken anywhere in the world. You won’t need the right to study in the country where the university offering the microcredential is based.

    Microcredentials are stand-alone courses designed to meet specific learner and employer needs. Those awarded by The Open University have academic credit value at either undergraduate or postgraduate level, and, if appropriate, this may be used towards selected Open University qualifications. For more details, including eligible qualifications, visit The Open University’s Counting microcredentials towards OU qualifications page.

    The credit awarded may potentially be used at another university, subject to the agreement of the receiving institution.

    Want to know more? Read the microcredential FAQs, or contact us.