Microsoft partners with educators to bridge the technology skills gap

By Elly Yates-Roberts on 16 April 2019

Microsoft has partnered with a series of higher education institutions to provide programmes to help students learn artificial intelligence (AI), computer science, cybersecurity and data science skills and prepare for the jobs of tomorrow.

According to ManpowerGroup’s Talent Shortage Survey, around 45% of employers report that skill shortages have a negative impact on business. Microsoft is helping to combat this by preparing students for a 21st-century career through courses in colleges and universities.

“The incredible transformation we’re witnessing in the 21st-century workplace calls out the need for organisations – governments, higher education institutions, employers, the non-profit sector – to step up and tackle one of the fundamental challenges of our time: closing the skills gap by teaching, training and preparing workers for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Karen Kocher, general manager of 21st Century Jobs, Skills and Employability at Microsoft. “This is a crucial part of our mission at Microsoft, and we are proud to join forces with these seminal, global learning institutions to help make good on that purpose.”

Many higher education institutions have already signed up to collaborate with Microsoft, including Bellevue College in Washington, US; Purdue University Global; and London School of Economics and Political Science, Staffordshire University and University of London, all in the UK.

“Our mission at the University of London is to develop internationally aware, innovative and employable graduates,” said Mary Stiasny, pro-vice-chancellor at University of London. “When our students work towards and achieve these ends at university before they enter the workplace, we realise our mission and our graduates can thrive. For this reason, we are particularly excited about our collaboration with Microsoft and its potential to help our students meet and exceed the changing needs of the 21st-century workplace.”

Microsoft has also worked with the National College Credit Recommendation Service in the US to determine college credit equivalencies for its programmes, including new Microsoft Azure role-based certifications. As such, students on Microsoft courses will now be able earn college credits at participating universities.