Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched the AWS AI Get Certified Challenge, a training initiative that gives developers and technology professionals in Hungary and 17 other Central and Eastern European countries three months of free access to premium artificial intelligence, machine learning and generative AI courses on the AWS Skill Builder platform. The programme aims to address the region’s growing shortage of AI expertise.
Scope and target audience
The initiative covers Hungary and 17 additional Central and Eastern European countries. It targets developers and technology specialists and provides training at three levels: beginners learning AI fundamentals, practitioners working with machine learning solutions, and experts building generative AI systems.
What participants receive
- Three months of complimentary access to premium AI, machine learning and generative AI courses on AWS Skill Builder.
- Support from AWS experts through consultations and exam-preparation events.
- A 50% discount on an official AWS AI certification exam for participants who meet the programme requirements.
Why AWS launched the programme
AWS points to growing demand for AI skills across Europe. Research commissioned by AWS and conducted by Strand Partners, titled Unlocking Europe’s AI Potential, found that 54% of European companies now use artificial intelligence, up from 33% two years earlier. At the same time, 44% of companies identified a lack of AI and digital skills as a major barrier to wider adoption of the technology. The study also reported that companies increased investment in AI developments by an average of 26% in 2026.
The Central and Eastern European technology ecosystem includes more than two million developers; the region accounts for about 18% of the world’s developer community and nearly half of the EMEA region’s developers.
Schedule and registration
Registration for the programme is open until 15 August 2026. Trainings start in late August, and the certification exams will be held in November and December.
Leadership comment
"Central and Eastern Europe is not only adopting artificial intelligence but actively shaping its future. This programme offers a clear development path for Hungarian developers from learning through to professional certification," said Gianni Romolo, the AWS lead for Central and Eastern European expansion.
Why it matters
In the short term, the initiative expands training opportunities for the region’s technical workforce. Over the longer term, it aims to help reduce the skills gaps that companies cite as obstacles to broader AI adoption, linking rising industry demand with increased regional training capacity.
