BWI: Certiport IC³ and Microsoft Office Certifications Help Connect India’s Most Disadvantaged to the Digital World, Opportunity

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: Business Wire
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 09:48 AM IST (04:18 AM GMT)
Editors: General: Consumer interest, Social issues; Business: Advertising, PR & marketing, Education & training, Information technology, Telecommunications; Technology
Release no: 19859
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Certiport IC³ and Microsoft Office Certifications Help Connect India's Most Disadvantaged to the Digital World, Opportunity
Rotary Club of New Delhi with Sponsorship from Intel, Spice Telecom, and CyberLearning Helps First 500 Students from Five Delhi and NCR Schools to Receive Digital Skills and Credentials

New Delhi, Delhi, India, Tuesday, May 05, 2009 -- (Business Wire India) -- Certiport today announced the launch of a pilot that will enable 500 eighth- through twelfth-grade students with little or no computer experience to develop and certify critical digital skills in Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®) and the official Microsoft® Office certification programs. Developed by Rotary Club of New Delhi through corporate sponsorship from Intel®, SpiceT Telecom and CyberLearning, the program aims to help students to stay in school and arm them with employability skills.

"India is experiencing astonishing growth in technology-enabled professional services," said Ray Kelly, president and CEO of Certiport. "Certiport is delighted to provide certified skills to a population that might not otherwise have the opportunity to support the growth of the country's digital economy."

Beginning this week, qualified trainers from CyberLearning will provide instruction to students on essential aspects of computing, the Internet and Microsoft Office applications at participating schools. After completing the required Certiport IC³ curriculum, which includes extensive hands-on computer training, students will be trained to earn the globally recognized Microsoft Office certification for proficiency in one of five business applications. The top two performing students from each participating school will be rewarded with an Intel-powered Classmate PC donated by the company. The lightweight, easy-to-carry device helps integrate technology with all other student learning to promote 21st Century skills development.

"Reports indicate that 80 percent of graduates produced by India are not readily employable, so it's imperative that we start focusing on schools," said Pankaj Rai, chairman of the Rotary Club of New Delhi Literacy Committee in India and CEO of CyberLearning. "Keeping students engaged in education through this program will enable them to advance beyond their present circumstances and seize opportunity."

Based on the success of the project, this pilot could be extended to more than 500 schools by as early as July 2009.

ABOUT CERTIPORT

Certiport prepares individuals with current and relevant digital skills and credentials for the competitive global workforce. These solutions are delivered by more than 12,000 Certiport Centers worldwide and include Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®), the official Microsoft® Office certification programs and the Adobe® Certified Associate certification program. For more information, visit www.certiport.com.

ABOUT CYBERLEARNING

CyberLearning was founded in 1989 as a project of National Education Foundation (USA) to make high quality information technology and critical management skills training affordable to everyone, especially to the disadvantaged. CyberLearning, headquartered near Washington D.C., has been a knowledge builder of choice for learners in countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the Caribbean Islands, Jordan, Egypt, Mauritius and India. CyberLearning is also the exclusive provider Certiport IC³®, Adobe® Certified Associate and the official Microsoft® Office certifications for the Indian sub-continent.

"Certiport" and "IC³" are registered trademarks of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. "Microsoft" is either a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT DETAILS
Contact Details:

for Certiport
John Pilmer, 801-369-7535
mediarelations@certiport.com

KEYWORDS
CONSUMER, SOCIAL, MARKETING, EDUCATION, IT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, TECHNOLOGY

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