IT Academy Member Success Stories

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IT Academy Member Videos

Watch the videos on this page to learn how members are successfully using the Microsoft IT Academy Program resources to cut costs, improve employability among graduates, train educators and staff, stay current on cutting-edge software, and more. Learn from the experiences of other IT Academy members who have successfully implemented the IT Academy program at their institutions.

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Washington Rolls Out Nation’s Largest Microsoft IT Academy Program
Microsoft and Washington state officials partner to make technology training and industry-recognized certification available to every high school, skills center, and tribal school in the state, regardless of location, size, or economic status. Listen to students, educators, and administrators talk about how this will impact their lives and career opportunities.
Statewide IT Academy Program in North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is the first state in the nation to implement Microsoft IT Academy statewide to all 628 public high schools. The Microsoft IT Academy provides students with real-world technology skills they need to be successful in college and a career. Listen to them tell their story.
Students Talk About the Value of Microsoft Certification
Watch real students discuss the connection between Microsoft Certification and the job market, how they believe Microsoft Certification can give them credibility with potential employers, and their plans for the future.
Dunbar High School Kids Get a Head Start in IT Education
See how Dunbar High School parents and students are embracing the IT Academy Program. They recognize the impact of certification on future employment opportunities, and believe that achieving these certifications will give students a leg up after graduation.
City of Ely Instructors Start with Self-Improvement
Training resources from the Microsoft IT Academy Program help educators at the City of Ely Community College improve their digital literacy, giving them more credibility with students and more self-confidence. With this added knowledge and confidence, educators are better prepared to teach students and can more effectively help them get certified.
Conalep Nuevo León Technical College Prepares Students for Job Market
The dean of Conalep Nuevo León technical college and the IT Academy Program administrator describe how the Microsoft IT Academy Program has benefited students by helping them acquire the skills they need in today’s job market. Educators are positioning students for better employment opportunities, and students realize that Microsoft certifications will help them stand out from the competition to land the best jobs.
Students at Red Rocks Community College Get Practical IT Experience
At Red Rocks Community College in Denver, Colorado, students participating in the Microsoft IT Academy Program are getting practical experience in the classroom. If they’re working toward a database administration certification, they’re building and administering databases in class; if they’re earning a developer certification, they’re writing software in class. This practical experience better prepares students to perform the duties employers will ask them to perform in the future.
School and Parents Decide on Microsoft IT Academy for London Grammar School
Chislehurst & Sidcup grammar school in London, England, became a Microsoft IT Academy after conducting a survey among parents and the local industry to determine which course would best suit their needs; the one that came out on top was the Microsoft IT Academy. Students are learning practical skills and gaining industry-recognized qualifications to help them in college and in their postgraduate careers.
University of West Scotland Chooses Curriculum Based on Local Employer Needs
At the University of West of Scotland, administrators and educators regularly meet with employers to find out which certifications and levels of education they want students to have and then construct programs to help students meet employers’ needs. They chose the Microsoft IT Academy Program because of the structured, straightforward approach for base concepts through actual implementation. They use the Microsoft Official Curriculum professional courseware that is available through the Microsoft IT Academy Program because it offers an easy-to-follow methodology followed by practical examples.
Educators Use Program Benefits and Tools to Help Students Get Trained and Get Certified
Educators at the Tennessee Technology Center recognize that understanding Microsoft technology is essential for students to be professionally successful; they make use of all the benefits and tools available to them as IT Academy members because they’re all geared toward successfully achieving certification. The tools they use include the Microsoft Official Curriculum, the Microsoft Official Academic Course series, practice tests, lab exercises, eBooks and eLabs, and lecture and study materials.

IT Academy Member Quotes

“The Microsoft IT Academy Program made materials, support, and resources affordable. This enabled us to include Microsoft training and certification, which is highly sought after by employers.”

George Anderson, Managing Director, Zenos

“The E-Learning element of Microsoft IT Academy has been great because it helps us create a flexible learning environment for students.”

Ronald Bryant, Statewide ATTAIN Coordinator, SUNY

“The Microsoft IT Academy is an incredible platform of resources that we can provide to the community colleges to meet an enormous need.”

Bill Doherty, Director, @ONE Project

“Students who earned a Microsoft Office Specialist certification, and who are now working in local industry, say that their technology skills really helped them to find good jobs.”

Dr. Michael Hänle, Professor of Economics and Tourism, Hochschule Kempten

“The Microsoft IT Academy Program is an excellent resource that provides the support and vision this program needed to get started.”

Jana Hambruch, Director, Academy for Technical Excellence, Dunbar High School

“Microsoft Certification opens the door to employment. It gives us a way to prove that our students know the skills that the job requires. It takes the risk factor away from the employer.”

George Anderson, Managing Director, Zenos

“I believe that our partnership with Microsoft Malaysia for the Microsoft IT Academy Program will enhance the ability of our public institutions of higher learning to produce a knowledge workforce ready for the innovation economy.”

Y.B. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin, Minister of Higher Education, Malaysia

“Box Hill Institute believes strongly in Microsoft certification for skills for employability. We see it as a great addition to our vocationally focused programs, as well as a way to differentiate ourselves in the training market.”

Simon Taylor, Manager, Centre for Information & Communications Technology, Box Hill Institute

“What we are trying to do here in Conalep Nuevo León is help close Mexico’s technology gap at different socioeconomic levels and give our students a better job and a better life.”

Jorge Gabriel Covarrubias, Dean of Conalep Nuevo León

“The Microsoft IT Academy Program has very good tools to prepare our students for certification, which is very important to prepare them for future jobs.”

Arnaud Berthier, Microsoft Lab Director, SUPINFO International University

IT Academy Member Case Studies

College Strengthens Reputation for IT Training and Reduces Costs for Students

Boston City Campus and Business College in South Africa wanted to strengthen its credibility as a high-quality, affordable provider of training for Microsoft Certifications. To that end, it joined the Microsoft IT Academy Program for its discounted academic pricing for the Microsoft Official Curriculum, the Microsoft Official Academic Course series, test vouchers, and Microsoft technologies.

Boston City Campus and Business College success story (PDF file, 214 KB)

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Aotearoa Mature Employment Service Trust: Microsoft Certifications at the Core of Successful New Zealand IT Skills Training Program
AMES success story (PDF file, 1.47 MB)
The Aotearoa Mature Employment Service Trust (AMES) trains more than 600 students annually—from ages 16 to 65—to meet the needs of the modern workplace. This is accomplished using its unique certification curriculum built around teaching tools and certification programs offered through the Microsoft IT Academy Program.
Box Hill Institute (BHI): IT Skills and Certification Put Australian Students on Fast Track to Employment
BHI success story (PDF file, 363 KB)
As a partner in the Microsoft IT Academy Program, Box Hill Institute (BHI) helps students develop a high level of IT skills literacy. Students earn industry certifications that help qualify them for the workplace. For students earning advanced diplomas at BHI, certification and other program strengths have led to a job placement rate of more than 90 percent.
eDeaf: IT Training Offers Those with Hearing Loss in South Africa an Opportunity to Live Their Dreams
eDeaf success story (PDF file, 279 KB)
Through participation in the Microsoft IT Academy program, eDeaf is offering South Africa’s deaf community industry-relevant skills and certification as a path to meaningful employment, financial empowerment, and independence.
University of Humanities and Economics in Lodz (AHE): Polish University Helps Students Improve Job Prospects Through IT Training and Certification
AHE success story (PDF file, 318 KB)
To help students qualify for better jobs in the information technology industry, the University of Humanities and Economics in Lodz (AHE) has designed a specialized course of studies based on the Microsoft IT Academy program. AHE’s unique offering provides students with a range of Microsoft skills-based courses and a choice of learning paths. Along with providing valuable knowledge and training in the latest technologies, the courses enable students to achieve the globally recognized industry certifications that employers increasingly demand.
WenS ICT Diensten (WenS): Microsoft Certification Helps Dutch Firms Build a Bridge Between Education and Industry
WenS success story (PDF file, 336 KB)
Working in partnership with regional vocational colleges (ROCs) across the country—all of which are members of the Microsoft IT Academy program—WenS ICT Diensten (WenS) focuses on the certifications that employers demand most, including Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) and Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA). After students complete their IT training and certification, WenS places them in internships.
Portalens Gymnasium: IT certifications and hands-on experience boost job prospects for Swedish students
Portalens Gymnasium success story (PDF file, 492 KB)
Portalens Gymnasium in Sweden uses technology training resources offered through the Microsoft IT Academy Program and Microsoft Partners in Learning to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students who earn highly regarded Microsoft certifications.
Trident College of Information Technology: Trident College of Information Technology leverages MOC in classes to realize 99 percent employment rate
Trident College success story (PDF file, 277 KB)
Kawaijuku Educational Institution’s Trident College of Information Technology incorporates the Microsoft IT Academy Program into its curriculum to help students attain industry-leading technology certifications while also learning practical skills. Trident College uses the Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) for certification study, and students gain in-depth understanding of technology through the exercises offered.
State University of New York Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) project: Adult learners embark on path to economic self-sufficiency through IT education
SUNY success story (PDF file, 2.15 MB)
The State University of New York’s Advanced Technology Training and Information Networking (ATTAIN) project builds bridges between education and industry by offering education and training opportunities to New York’s most needy students. The project uses technology education as a tool for academic and workforce advancement, offering courses aligned with Microsoft IT curricula in 36 labs statewide. The collaborative program served more than 10,000 students in its first year and expects continued success.
The @ONE Project: Advancing IT teaching skills for educators and staff at California community colleges
@ONE Project success story (PDF file, 169 KB)
Since 1996, the @ONE Project has carried out a statewide technology training initiative aimed at enhancing student learning and success throughout the California community college system. Sponsored by the Chancellor’s Office and currently hosted at Evergreen Valley College and Mt. San Jacinto College, @ONE trains faculty and staff on how to use technology for instructional purposes. The project taps the resources of the Microsoft IT Academy Program to help improve the quality of instruction for the system’s 3 million students.
Hochschule Kempten: University takes innovative approach to teaching computing skills to business students
Hochschule Kempten success story (PDF file, 167 KB)
Hochschule Kempten focuses on providing a practical education to help students find careers in the diverse economy of Bavaria. As a prerequisite for earning a bachelor’s degree in the university’s Economics and Tourism program, business students are now required to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam. This credential validates their competency in key business software applications, which in turn helps increase their employability.
Ogeechee: Ogeechee Technical College integrates certification courses in degree tracks to turn out new breed of IT pros
Ogeechee Technical College success story (PDF file, 150 KB)
Ogeechee wants to be known for producing top-quality graduates with top-notch technical skills and a strong work ethic. To that end, the school’s flagship computer information systems (CIS) program ranks first statewide in industry-recognized technology certifications, which are proving to be a sound path to promising IT careers. Ogeechee Tech incorporates Microsoft IT Academy resources into its academic tracks to strengthen its program. Association with the Microsoft name has also helped the college recruit more talented students.
Dunbar: Technology education program prepares students to excel in college and careers
Dunbar High school success story (PDF file, 149 KB)
The Academy for Technology Excellence (ATE) at Florida’s Dunbar High School provides a rigorous academic program focused on technology innovation. The ATE offers the hands-on experiences that students need in today’s information-based world. Training resources available through the Microsoft IT Academy Program have helped ATE students accrue technical certifications, gain an edge on IT jobs, and get a jump on college. Moreover, students show marked improvement in other academic areas and score better on standardized state tests.
Conalep Nuevo: Mexico’s Conalep Nuevo León leads the way in certification-based IT skills training
Conalep Nuevo León success story
Conalep Nuevo León is committed to providing students at its 14 technical colleges with highly regarded Microsoft certifications that validate their proficiency in Microsoft Office productivity programs. Through participation in the Microsoft IT Academy Program, school officials are also making plans to broaden the curriculum to include additional courses leading to more advanced technology skills certifications.
SUPINFO: International University uses Microsoft certifications to drive employability and job opportunities
SUPINFO International University success story
The field of computing was still young in 1965 when SUPINFO was founded as the first French private higher-education school dedicated to information technology (IT). Known today as SUPINFO International University, SUPINFO has stayed at the forefront of IT education as it has grown into an international university network that encompasses dozens of campuses and counts more than 5,000 alumni. SUPINFO sustains its success by continuing to invest in innovative education and training resources, including the Microsoft IT Academy Program.
Malaysia: Microsoft IT Academy Program helps Malaysia narrow ICT skills gap
Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education success story
To help address an acute and growing shortage of workers with strong information and communications technology (ICT) skills, Microsoft is partnering with 20 institutions of higher learning across Malaysia to expand opportunities for students to gain industry-relevant skills and earn globally recognized ICT certifications.