Henley Business School launches Skills Centre with Alibaba Cloud

Henley Business School, part of the University of Reading, today announces a new Skills Centre in collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities that bring the latest resources and industry practices to students, the Skills Centre will cover cutting-edge technology areas.

Professor Elena B. Spasova, Dean at Henley Business School, said:

“We’re delighted to be the first business school in the UK to bring the Alibaba Cloud Skills Centre to faculty and students. In our experience, there’s enormous potential in combining academia with industry, and working with one of the world’s leading technology organisations will help us to shape the future of technology education at Henley.

“The partnership represents our continued commitment to nurturing the digital talents of our students, empowering them with the skills and expertise required for international competitiveness.”

Ms Selina Yuan, President of International Business at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence International, said:

"The partnership between Alibaba Cloud and Henley Business School at the University of Reading is not only a deep integration of technology and education, but also marks Alibaba Cloud's strong commitment to cultivating digital talent globally. Alibaba Cloud will offer strong support and looks forward to providing high-level digital skills training to more students and professionals through the Skills Centre.”

Through close collaboration with Alibaba Cloud, the Skills Centre is designed to drive educational innovation and cultivate high-calibre talent for the digital age. Providing students with a platform that combines learning, practice and innovation, the training centre will offer regular workshops, seminars and hands-on projects, enabling students to enhance their skills in real-world applications.

Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said:

"In an ever-changing world, students must carry forward their thirst for innovation and discovery. Cloud technology will help us move forward and the Skills Centre aims to provide opportunities for academics and students globally by committing resources to the goal of developing the digital talent of the future."

The Skills Centre was announced at a launch event attended by a delegation from Alibaba Cloud as well as faculty and staff from Henley Business School and the University of Reading. The event included a roundtable discussion about the future of digital skills training.

Available for any student or member of faculty at the University of Reading to access, the Skills Centre will be available from September 2024.