This week, I have the honor of participating in the UNESCO Third International Congress on TVET (Shanghai, 13-16 May 2012). Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is critical to the developing and addressing economic and social challenges like youth unemployment. The Congress will provide a global platform for knowledge sharing, reflection and debate on the changing landscape and the advancement of skill-development programs. As a technology industry partner, Microsoft will participate in discussions about Learning and Technology for 21st Century Work.
This is a very important topic to me personally. I believe that technology can change the world and improve people's lives. Advances such as cloud computing are enabling people to make a real impact for a better tomorrow, and will create opportunities for our future -- such as new industries and jobs -- which will build a foundation for future innovation and economic growth. Today's young people will become tomorrow's leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and decision makers. They will be responsible for the world's future economic prosperity and social wellbeing.
With the continuing acceleration of technology and innovation, keeping up in today’s world requires the right skills, training and experiences in order to be prepared for the new jobs and opportunities. Empowering young people means providing access to skills training and Microsoft Certifications that help students differentiate themselves in today’s competitive job market. The IT industry is one of the few industries where there is growth not only in technology but also in jobs. There is a dire need for a technically skilled workforce and Microsoft Certifications provide the validation of skills that can help students get a job in IT.
By helping youth capture opportunities for education and employment, we are helping them create their futures….we are helping them create real impact for a better tomorrow. Programs such as Microsoft IT Academy are helping to enable employability, digital literacy and 21st-century workforce development through IT training and certification. Today, there are more than 10,000 Microsoft IT Academies helping 7.5 million students and 750,000 educators around the world. That’s impact!
When the economy and jobs are top of mind in the world I am proud to be part of a company whose products and programs help local communities and economies by preparing students for job skills and employability that will equip them for a successful future.
- Lutz Ziob, General Manager of Microsoft Learning
why does microsoft not its academic institution in many african countries such as ghana. many of us need such quality education and trainig. thanks.
@Derrick
Microsoft does not set up IT Academies, It is for academic institutions to apply to the program: www.microsoft.com/.../overview.aspx. If you know an insttution that would benefit from the program and that would meet the requirements, invite them to appy: I am sure Microsoft Learning (I am a Certified Trainer, but do not work for Microsoft Learning) will be more than happy to help them enroll.
@Lutz,
Indeed, I know this is something that you are keen on, and the IT Academy program can certainly hope, although focused on Microsoft technologies.
I think that some of the efforts that Microsoft is conducting in eCourseware, Microsoft Virtual Academy and enabling-NGOs such as NetHope will possibly have a bigger impact.
I remember your presentation in York telling us (Microsoft Certified Trainers) how the next generation of learners are more apt to conduct Just-in-Time training via a YouTube video, assisted by social-networking to seek out experts, than to go through the traditional cursus (did you mean AFTER they had completed some formal curriculum?). There is an opportunity there to adapt to engaging, multimedia-rich content, such as what Apple's iBook Author offers.
Marc, thank you for jumping in here and replying to Derrick's post while I was busy with my involvement at the UNESCO's TVET and Education Leadership Forum (I will provide an additional blog post soon with my thougths).
As always, you are right Marc - Microsoft does not create it's own academies, we are inviting schools, colleges and universities around the world to join the MS IT Academy program, and provide help with the deployment through our Microsoft Academic Service Provider (MASP) program, and sometimes also via individual MCTs or dedicated Learning Partners. Not suprisingly to me, a quickly growing number of institutions see the true value-add of joining the MS ITA program - we have about 11,000 schools around the world enrolled todate, with the largest number located in the US where whole States have joined the program with their High Schools and/or Community Colleges (e.g. North Carolina, Washington, Virginia). Interestingly enough, our second most active region around the world is the Middle East and Africa right now, with over 1,000 enrollments (e.g. hundreds of Nigerian high schools are in the program).
Of course, we still have only scratched the surface of the potential reach for the MS ITA program. Hence, Derrick, if you want to help us with making the necessary introductions, please send me mail (lziob@microsoft.com) and I will put you in touch with the responsible Microsoft Learning development manager for MEA.
Marc, as for the future of blended learning - I suggested we take this offline or create a separate dedicated blog discussion around the topic. There are just to many super interesting moving parts to squeeze it into this discussion around ITA and consequently overload this posting. OK?
Lutz
P.S. On my way to Vietnam and Japan next week ... exciting discussions and learnings along the way expected.
Dear Lutz,
>>as for the future of blended learning - I suggested we take this offline or create a separate dedicated blog discussion around the topic
Of course, we always get a chance to discuss at the various MCT-related events. Unfortunately, I will retire from the AC this year, so we will not get a chance to do that in Janauary in Redmond.