North Carolina & ITA Academy

1. North Carolina & ITA Academy

2. IT Academy: Something for Everyone! Schools want: The best outcomes Relevant learning Maximized investment Attract students and talent Employers want: Skilled employees Productive workers Job-ready recruits Program Objective ‘Empowering academic institutions to help students realize their skills and career potential through relevant, high-quality educational programs’ Students want: Real-world training Cutting-edge skills Valuable credentials Teachers want: Relevant curriculum Time-saving options Engaged students

3. The Microsoft IT Academy Program is a global skills program that helps academic institutes and their teachers train students on Microsoft Technology. The program provides access to a range of resources that provide a complete ICT Skills solution for teachers and students. Resources include curriculum, elearning, hands on labs and interactive tools that will help prepare students for a career in IT and a long term Industry Partnership. Microsoft IT Academy Program empowers schools to prepare students for the IT job market (January 12, 2009) Microsoft IT Academy Program formally initiated in China (August 29, 2008) Microsoft IT Academy Program to aid government in developing a highly employable workforce for Malaysia (July 31, 2008) http://www.microsoft.com/education/MSITAcademy/success.mspx VideosMember quotesFeatured storiesPress releases

4. Program Fast Facts • Global Program • Launched over 10 years ago • 7800 ITAs Worldwide • Asia Pacific represents 20% • Present in 129 countries • 91,000 students certified last year through IT Academies • Over 1,000 Academic Certified as Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) • MOU and Alliance Agreements signed with many Ministries and Departments of Education “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. We want our students to have the skills, knowledge and resources they Need to transform Malaysia into a knowledge-based economy and a key catalyst for this transformation is technology,” Y.B Dato’ Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin Minister of Higher Education

5. Certification = Employability for Students • 55% of Hiring Managers consider employee certification as a criterion for hiring • 46% of Hiring Managers consider employee certification as a criterion for promotion • 63% of Hiring Managers feel that certified individuals are more productive than their counterparts • 40% of individuals reported that Microsoft Certification was a factor in improving their ability to find or keep a job or lead to a promotion • 43% of individuals reported salary increases as a result of Microsoft certification • 53% of individuals believe obtaining a certification makes them more marketable • 93% report becoming more skilled in Office Applications as a result of getting certified • 50% time reduction on common tasks by companies using Office certified personnel “It’s truly a global marketplace, especially in the IT world. If you don’t have a certification that validates you have the needed skills, you’re at a significant disadvantage.” Bill Doherty, @ONE Project, College System of California 1 2006 IDC Study 2 2006 MCP Customer Satisfaction Study 3 Redmond Magazine 2006 survey of compensation for IT Professionals 4 2008 Intrepid Survey 5 Certiport Global Survey 6 MSBC 2008 Study