In this case study, you can read about the Lincoln Specialists Schools Group (LSSG) which is making advanced and specialised school courses available to students in Lincoln through cloud computing, and fighting the decline in student population in rural UK – with the help of an innovative SME - F1 Group.

Paving the way for new digital technologies such as the transition to the cloud requires a parallel investment in human capital.

The IT Academy in perspective

As part of Employment Week, Microsoft acted as main sponsors providing leadership to a series of events and awards where one of the highlights was the Skills for Employability ceremony. 

Did you know that 77 percent of jobs will require technology skills in the next five years as predicted by experts?  (Source: IDC)  That's one of the reasons Microsoft is working to help students get low-cost training and certifications that are crucial for today's job market and the next generation of young innovators.

The fusing of ICT with business economic delivery models is challenging the future of the IT profession.

The recent announcement of “Youth on the Move” by the European Commission has highlighted the challenge we have in Europe to help our young people into work. This is a major issue in the UK with 950,000 unemployed young people, a 20% youth unemployment rate. Older workers have traded down to lower skilled jobs during the economic crisis, displacing young people with less experience.

We were at the Go digITal event during eSkills week earlier March and spoke to a number of ICT students present.

I’m very proud to be writing that Microsoft has just launched the Microsoft Student Career Portal! The portal provides insight on five IT careers, along with the learning tools, certification exam guidance, and various resources necessary for students to gain technical skills that can differentiate them in today’s challenging job market.

As you might have read in my recent post, the IDC last week published a report sponsored by Microsoft, entitled “Post Crisis: e-skills are needed to drive Europe’s innovation society” (view PDF) which is based on the input of over 1,300 employers and training partners.

Microsoft Learning drives around Europe with the Get on the Bus Tour. Video contains interview the participants as they stopped by Belgium. 

Interviews with stakeholders on e-skills in Europe. Filmed at the launch of the report - Post Crisis: e-skills are needed to drive Europe’s innovation society - by IDC at Microsoft in Brussels, November 2009

CITEVE and Microsoft join hands to support Portugals textile industry workers by providing them with IT training to update their skills and re-enter the workforce.