Microsoft's Community Affairs Programmes
Microsoft believes that everyone has potential. Sometimes people just need help to unlock their potential.
Microsoft's Community Affairs programmes focus on improving the quality of life for underserved individuals around the world. Through monetary grants, software donations, technology solutions, delivery and development of a learning curriculum and employee volunteer hours, Microsoft supports numerous projects and organisations to expand opportunities through technology access and training.
Unlimited Potential Programme Overview
 | In today's knowledge-based economy, computer literacy has become a vital workplace skill - a skill that millions of people worldwide still lack. Unlimited Potential (UP) is a global initiative from Microsoft designed to help narrow the technology skills gap and aid workforce development by providing technology skills training through community-based technology learning centres (CTLCs). |
Microsoft Unlimited Potential in New Zealand
- Microsoft New Zealand has been an active participant in the global UP initiative since 2004. Already two local CTLCs have received grants, software and use of the UP Community Learning Curriculum through the UP programme - South Dunedin's Approach Adult Learning Centre, part of the Dunedin Methodist Mission, and Helensville's Te Awaroa Youth Club. Feedback from these CTLCs formed the basis of an application to Microsoft Corporation prepared by the State Services Commission and a CTLC Advisory board, for funding to establish a uniquely New Zealand programme - the Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation.
Microsoft Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation
In May 2005 Microsoft Corp. awarded the New Zealand government a grant of more than NZD 350,000 to help fund the first two years of the New Zealand Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation.
The aim of the Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation is to assist in building a movement of effective people with foundation IT skills within and across communities that most need assistance. It will achieve this by helping build the capability in CTLC trainers to deliver the Unlimited Potential Community Learning Curriculum to meet the distinct learning styles of their communities using course content appropriate to their needs through a specially developed course.
Additionally Microsoft New Zealand will donate more than NZD 2 million worth of software to help build the capacity of the CTLCs and it will provide the Unlimited Potential Community Learning Curriculum to CTLC trainers who attend the course.
Key to the success of the application was the partnership approach employed by Microsoft New Zealand, the New Zealand government and the CTLC Advisory Board along with the approach of focusing the majority of the funding on developing and delivering a course to IT skills trainers from the CTLCs. Microsoft Corp. acknowledged that these approaches have the potential to be applied to a number of other countries around the world.
The Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation will initially comprise:
The UP Learning Foundation course is being developed and delivered by Whitireia Community Polytechnic to help empower the IT skills trainers of CTLCs from around New Zealand. The course will review the UP Community Learning Curriculum and help build skills in mentoring and working with communities who have particular challenges. The foundation course will also better enable trainers to customise the course content to meet the needs of their communities.
CTLCs can apply to receive software donations to help build the capacity of their centres. Find out more about Microsoft's Community Software Donation Programme.
The UP Community Learning Curriculum will be provided to all CTLCs who have an IT skills trainer attend the UP Learning Foundation course. This curriculum emphasises real-world applications and course material to build foundational IT skills.
Microsoft and its partners will work together to create a community-based support network to help further inspire and support CTLCs throughout New Zealand.
Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation Advisory Board
The Advisory Board comprises representatives from a wide range of CTLCs from around the country and from many different communities. The role of the Board is to provide insights into their own learnings and be used as a sounding board as the initiative is further developed and implemented.
The board first came together in January 2005 and has played a key role in the development of the application and in the building of the concept that will become the New Zealand Unlimited Potential Learning Foundation. The board will also be responsible for ensuring the Foundation delivers a course that addresses the unique IT skill training New Zealand CTLCs require.
How Do I Get Involved?
- To be eligible to attend the training course at no cost you must be able to demonstrate that you meet the following criteria and complete the attached application form.
- About you
- You will:
- Be working in a paid or unpaid (volunteer) capacity in a whanau, hapu or community project which provides people with the opportunity to learn how to use information and communication technology (ICT)
- Be able to use a computer, either a PC or a MAC
- Be familiar with at least two of Microsoft’s software packages, e.g. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Access, Front Page
- Be able to commit to supporting another trainer and providing training to local people for at least one year after the completion of the course (the course will provide you with the tools to do this)
- Be able to identify a challenge (or problem or issue) and a success in your work with the Community Technology Learning project which you can discuss at the training course
- Agree to contribute to the graduate network, including contributing your challenge and success as case studies
- Be sponsored by their whanau, hapu or community project to attend the course, complete the course task and provide training to local people using tools developed from the course
- Be a not for profit organisation
- Have a clear focus on providing opportunities for local people to learn to use information and communication technology. (The project may have other objectives as well.)
- Provide those learning opportunities free of charge or for a nominal amount
- A Management Committee or Board of Trustees who will act as your sponsor and:
- endorse your application to attend the course
- support you while attending the course e.g. providing someone to cover your work for the four days that you are away from the project
- support you to complete the course requirements e.g. training another person in your project to be able to deliver a learning session to local people and your continued training of local people
- agree to give you 20 hours professional development time to enable you to participate in the on-line graduate network.
- The community in which you work will be economically disadvantaged:
- e.g. have a high level of unemployment and/or poorly paid employment
- Or, it will have a low level of basic health, social and educational services
The project you work for will:
Your community
- Contact details for more information, assistance or further application packs:
Call Whitireia on 0800 944 847
Email Whitireia for more information.
Post to UPLIFT
Whitireia Community Polytechnic,
Private Bag 50910
Porirua City
Notes on Application
Application Form
Quick Questions