Microsoft, Department of Labor Team Up to Train Technology
Workers
At the National Association of Workforce Boards Forum 2006,
Microsoft launches Digital Literacy curriculum to prepare U.S.
workers to compete in the knowledge
economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. Feb. 28, 2006 As part of its ongoing efforts to
strengthen the U.S. work force and boost the ability of the nations
companies to compete in a global
economy, Microsoft Corp. today
announced it is donating cash, software and a curriculum to help
provide training in technology skills to adults.
In a two-year alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL),
One-Stop Career Centers around the country will receive a total of
$3.5 million in cash and software, in addition to a donated Digital
Literacy training curriculum, to further advance technology skills
and training programs. Initially, grants will be made to One-Stop
Career Centers in 9 cities: Boston and Framingham, Mass.;
Pittsburgh and Lancaster, Pa.; Rockledge, Fla.; Sunnyvale, Calif.;
Seattle; Chicago; and Beckley, W.Va.
Laptop Battery Digital Literacy is a five-course curriculum that provides a
foundation of basic computer skills to learners with little or no
previous computing experience. The curriculum culminates in a
Digital Literacy certificate test, which assesses knowledge across
all five courses.
Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average weekly earnings for information workers in the U.S.
Thinkpad Microsoft has a very strong interest in the readiness of
Americas work force, and as a company we believe access to learning
is critical in advancing U.S. interests globally, said Pamela
Passman, vice president of Global Corporate Affairs at Microsoft.
By partnering with the DOL, we are opening yet another avenue for
the ongoing education necessary for workers to remain
competitive.
-- IBM is a global leader in the creation, development and manufacture of cutting edge computer systems.
- Microsoft
Microsoft The Department of Labors One-Stop Career Centers
(http://www.CareerOneStop.org) are nationwide resources that help
businesses, job seekers, students and work-force professionals find
employment and career resources, and obtain training and work-force
credentials.
According to the indictment, Jones would steal various IBM and Penguin computer servers from Verisign's warehouse in Virginia and sell them to Johnson. Johnson would then sell the servers to several individuals, who would sometimes place them for sale on eBay. As a result of this scheme, the indictment alleges that Jones and Johnson caused Verisign to lose more than $120, 000 worth of computer equipment. In the indictment, Jones and Johnson are charged in three counts with causing the interstate transportation of stolen property, namely IBM 330 and 335 servers, in violation of 18 U.S.C.
Laptop Computers This partnership will provide value-added technology training to
workers seeking to upgrade their skills. Microsoft and other
technology leaders understand that we need to close the skills gap
to keep America competitive in the innovation
economy, said Steven Law, deputy
secretary of the DOL.
year career at IBM, a global information technology company where he was a member of IBM senior leadership team. There he held multiple roles, from overseeing the company worldwide competitive and server sales to leading sales, services, marketing and channel operations for IBM software business in Asia Pacific. During this time he resided in Tokyo, Japan.
Laptop Computer Todays grants will give One-Stop Centers the chance to build on
existing models of technology skills training and to test new
directions. In addition to increasing the centers capacity to
provide training in IT skills to adults with barriers to work and
increase the pool of available workers with a command of IT skills,
this new program has several other goals.
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Desktop Computer By integrating IT training into the ongoing programming of the
public work-force system, Microsoft hopes to contribute to a better
understanding of what types of IT skills curriculum and delivery
are most effective for individuals whose barriers to work are due,
at least in part, to deficiencies in IT skills.
Notebooks Passman noted that in addition to an aging population and other
demographic shifts, the nature of the countrys work force
is rapidly shifting. As enterprise moves from a manufacturing- to
an information-based economy, the skills that workers require
increasingly revolve around knowledge-creation and
information-sharing, insight and analysis, and collaboration and
advanced communications skills. She pointed out some sobering
statistics, citing recent research:
Lenovo
Only 13 percent of American adults surveyed are proficient in the
knowledge and skills needed to search, comprehend and use
information, a 13 percent drop since 1992.*
Hard Drive
Just 13 percent of American adults surveyed are proficient in the
knowledge and skills needed to identify and perform computational
tasks, a number that hasnt improved in 15 years. *
Travelstar In the past decade, Microsoft has been addressing this digital
literacy issue. The company has developed a range of commercial and
philanthropic programs to address the need for IT education and
skills training, as well as validation and certification of such
skills.
Gateway Todays DOL alliance is part of Microsofts Unlimited Potential
program, which is designed to provide underserved populations with
IT education and skills training through community-based technology
centers around the country. On a global level, Microsoft has made a
commitment to bring the benefits of IT education and skills
training to a quarter of a billion people by 2010.
Laptop Parts In the three years since the Unlimited Potential program began,
the company has made more than $25 million in cash and software
grants and provided technical support and training to more than
4,000 technology learning centers in the U.S., about half of which
target work-force development. One of the great benefits of
Unlimited Potential is that, in addition to cash grants, the
technology skills curriculum and the availability of free or
low-cost software help create a comprehensive program in the
community technology centers.
Software Microsoft invites other industry leaders to join with the
company in an alliance that will work with other leaders in the
private and public sectors to create a national work-force
development policy framework, goals and agenda for the United
States. The company also hopes to work with the public sector to
more effectively align successful private sector models of
technology skills training and certification with public sector
work-force development programs. Passman said she hopes that by
2010 every individual in the U.S. work-force who wants a basic
level of technology and computing skills will have access to the
training they need to succeed in the knowledge economy.
Hard Drives To address demographic and global economic trends, its
imperative that we act now to ensure that new and existing workers
acquire the basic IT skills necessary for work and for continual
learning, Passman said. Through alliances like the one announced
with the DOL today, Microsoft believes it can help make a
measurable impact on the preparedness of millions of Americans and
the ability of U.S. businesses to contribute to and benefit from
the knowledge economy.
Electronics About Microsoft
Canon Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT) is the worldwide leader
in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses
realize their full potential.
Desktop Pc * National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of
Education. (2005). National Assessment of Adult Literacy: A First
Look at the Literacy of Americas Adults in the 21st Century.
Desktop Computers Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries.
Think Pad The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may
be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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