WHAT IS THE MICROSOFT IT ACADEMY?

Updated December 8, 2022 · 1 Min Read

The Microsoft IT Academy, which was renamed the Microsoft Imagine Academy, helps business professionals to hone the skills that they need to remain competitive in dynamic, technology-driven work environments. According to labor analysts, the number of technology jobs is expected to grow at above-average rates. However, the analysts claim that there are not enough skilled ...

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The Microsoft IT Academy, which was renamed the Microsoft Imagine Academy, helps business professionals to hone the skills that they need to remain competitive in dynamic, technology-driven work environments.

According to labor analysts, the number of technology jobs is expected to grow at above-average rates. However, the analysts claim that there are not enough skilled information technology (IT) workers in the domestic labor pool to meet the current or future demand for those who have technology skills.

Within its Imagine Academy, Microsoft partners with students, academia, government agencies, and industry to provide supplemental course work that prepares tomorrow's technology innovators for the challenges ahead. Here are some examples of course content that instill competence and confidence in those who work in both industry and academia.

Microsoft Office Suite Training

Even business professionals who do not directly work in the IT industry find that they have more job opportunities available to them when they cultivate technical skills. Understanding Microsoft Office Suite's many features and how they are likely to be used in real-world work environments is a critical requirement for today's business professionals. The functionality of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Outlook and SharePoint is covered in the Imagine Academy's online course curriculum. The entry-level training program can be taken at one's own pace, and it prepares students to pass the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification exam. The MOS certification gives students a valuable way to promote their skills to future employers. The Microsoft Imagine Academy makes its digital reference tools, lesson plans and e-learning curriculum conveniently available to students and their academic instructors through university-sponsored portals.

Microsoft Technology Training

Microsoft technology training courses introduce students to the fundamentals of IT in preparation for technology jobs that are needed in a variety of sectors. These courses extend beyond learning operational features of popular applications, and they include exposure to the principles and best practices for database design, software development, and IT infrastructure maintenance. Specifically, students learn about Windows server administration, network security, coding, and software testing. These types of online Microsoft Imagine Academy courses prepare students to successfully pass the certification exam for the Microsoft Technology Associate credential. Some of these valuable courses are available through public resources like local city or county library systems.

Microsoft Training for Educators

Developing future technology leaders and innovators requires instructors who are technologically literate. Some Microsoft Imagine Academy courses introduce instructors at all levels to appropriate methods that are used to apply technology to multiple areas of the education field. For example, secondary school educators learn how to incorporate technology into curriculum development, education administration, and education policy. This training can lead to the Microsoft Certified Educator credential for current teachers as well as teacher candidates who attend accredited university programs.

Hiring managers within industry continue to use certification credentials as key indicators of job competence when evaluating employment candidates. Subsequently, instructors who can effectively teach Microsoft certification courses to students are in high demand by universities as well as boutique learning centers. Microsoft Imagine Academy provides courses for educators who want to teach the technical concepts that are presented within the Academy's course catalog. These types of courses prepare educators to earn their Microsoft Certified Trainer credential which enhances their credibility with employers throughout academia.

Conclusion

Over the course of many years, Microsoft has developed a reputation for deploying quality training and certification programs. The Microsoft Imagine Academy that was formerly recognized as the Microsoft IT Academy builds on the company's reputation through its enhanced digital learning tools, proven program curricula and extended partnerships with numerous public and private organizations.

See also: The Best Online Information Systems Security Degree Programs (Bachelor's)

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