There is no need debating that COVID-19 has changed the world forever. At individual level we probably won’t be able to notice it once the world opens up, but there are so many things that won’t be done same way again – and one such thing is how people will be working. The second thing and closely tied to the first is technology deepening. What the two means for you and me is that to be able to effectively compete in post COVID-19 era, digital skills will be paramount, and that’s why Microsoft has set up a programme by which it wants to empower 25 million people worldwide with digital skills.
To empower the 25 million people with the digital skills that they’ll need post COVID-19, Microsoft will first need to understand the particular digital skills that should be focused on by using data to identify in-demand jobs and the skills needed to fill them. Second Only, Microsoft ill offer free access to learning paths and content to help people develop the skills post COVID-19 positions require and finally there is the provision of low-cost certifications and free job-seeking tools to help people who develop these skills pursue new jobs.
The approach Microsoft will use to impart the digital skills on those to be trained will include the use of data and technology to help people develop new skills, focus on a broad set of skills that’s needed to augment the core digital skills themselves, ask employers to do more for their employees, partner with other organizations particularly NGOs and other other government organizations, and probably even influence government policies wherever possible.
Those who undergo training won’t just be trained and left without some sort of evidence that they have been trained – they will be certified. For the participants to get certified, they will need to take some exams, which they will have the ability to schedule from September to the end of the year, and exam takers will have until March 31, 2021 to complete the exam. This will provide access to the exams that provide five fundamentals certifications and eight role-based certifications. These will include:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals
- Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform App Maker Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Developer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate
The details of how Microsoft will provide the digital skills to the 25 million globally has been provided in the official Microsoft Blog where it is not only explained how Microsoft intends to provide the digital skills to those who will participate, but also highlights in depth the necessary background information that informs Microsoft’s decision to offer the digital skills that will be relevant in post COVID-19 world. Be sure to read the very detailed article if you want to be one of the participants.
See also: Ensuring secure collaboration is key to digital learning
