THIS TIME next year 20 IT professionals will be completing Ireland’s first cloud computing course, a one-year master’s degree delivered remotely by the Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

The cloud class of 2012 will be made up of people on secondment from companies involved in the development of the programme, but the plan is to open it up with 40 places for computer science students from Irish tech institutes.

The course is not the first in the world, but Tim Horgan, the institute lecturer who played a key role in developing the programme, claims it is the best. He said two British universities, Aberdeen and Sheffield Hallam, offer an MSc in cloud computing but they do not have the close ties to the IT sector that makes the Cork offering unique. Near neighbours EMC were instrumental in setting it up.

“Around 12 months ago they came to us with the idea. They said the direction of the company was changing and wanted help to transition people to the cloud,” said Mr Horgan.

Jason Ward, country manger for EMC Ireland, said the company’s HR department identified that a degree programme around cloud computing would be a positive way to upskill employees.

“We’ve worked with CIT for 23 years so it was easy to open dialogue and develop the concept.”

Course modules explore the skills needed to manage and migrate to virtual environments, and there is a strong focus on storage, security and software development.

Mr Horgan’s e-mail box has had over 300 inquiries since the course was announced this week, exceeding his expectations. IT professionals from Russia and Israel have already signed up. Closer to home it has also caught the attention of multinationals in Ireland.

“They have told us there is a need for it, and they are delighted it’s happening here,” said Mr Horgan.