Microsoft IT Academy is changing name!

We want to inform you that the Microsoft IT Academy program will be renamed to Microsoft Imagine Academy effective January 11th, 2016. This name change is part of Microsoft’s transformation in the way we reach and impact students in the education space. With this change, Microsoft Imagine will be the single identity used for all Microsoft programs, tools and initiatives aimed at students to drive technology, computer science, coding and employability skills. As a part of this change, in January we will transition to providing customers’ access to a digital Microsoft Imagine Academy Welcome Kit to enable easier and on demand access to all program marketing materials and resources We will also provide a new Microsoft Imagine Academy logo. We encourage you to start using it right away however Microsoft is providing six months transition time to allow customers to update marketing assets to the new Microsoft Imagine Academy logo. If you have any questions on the change in IT Academy naming to Microsoft Imagine Academy, please contact us. Thank you!

Free for ITPCS Members | Linux Professional Institute - Approved Academic Partner status

ITPCS Members can (for no extra fee) become a 'Linux Professional Institute Approved Academic Partner' (LPI-AAP). ITPCS has negotiated an umbrella deal that covers all consortium members. Benefits (other than the kudos!) include training materials for staff/students, reduced price exams and more. There is no commitment from you in terms of exam delivery and there is no requirement to put staff through exams either. If you deliver any Open Source HN units, LPIC-1 or are planning to deliver commercial training in Linux this is a perfect opportunity For more information on the LPI programme visit http://www.futurecert.com/ Background: The Linux Professional Institute is globally supported by the IT industry, enterprise customers, community professionals, government entities and the educational community. LPI's certification program is supported by an affiliate network spanning five continents and is distributed worldwide in multiple languages in more than 7,000 testing locations. Since 1999, LPI has delivered over 230,000 exams and 75,000 LPIC certifications around the world. The Linux Professional Institute promotes and certifies essential skills on Linux and Open Source technologies through the global delivery of comprehensive, top-quality, vendor-independent exams. Established as an international non-profit organization in September 1999 by the Linux community, the Linux Professional Institute continues to demonstrate recognized global leadership in the certification of Linux professionals. LPI advances the Linux and Open Source movement through strategic partners, sponsorships, innovative programs and community development activities. LPI's major financial sponsors are Platinum Sponsors IBM, Linux Journal, Linux Magazine, Novell, SGI, and TurboLinux as well as Gold Sponsors, HP and IDG.

Navigating the new IT Academy Website

IT Academy Overview

Want to review what the IT Academy offers?

View this short video outlining the solutions it can provide

Delivering Cyber Security - Microsoft Edinburgh

You are invited to the Delivering Cyber Security Event we are organising in Edinburgh on 12th December 2014.

The aim of the event is to provide you with skills, knowledge, tools and resources allowing you to deliver courses and units in the area of cyber security.

The event will bring together security experts to discuss the area of Cyber Security in computing, an area where many career opportunities exist.  The event will also show how SQA units and vendor certifications can be added to the curriculum that allow students to gain the requisite skills and knowledge in this area.

Confirmed speakers include ZoneFox, Police Scotland Cybercrime Department, Cervello Consultants and Microsoft. A full agenda will be forwarded nearer the event.

I hope you will be able to join us in what will be an informative, stimulating and educational event

Free places can be booked at - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/delivering-cyber-security-todays-learning-tomorrows-defence-tickets-14478636993

MCT Enrolment now open for this year

The Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Program offers resources and benefits that help instructors prepare for and deliver top notch technical training. As part of your IT Academy benefits, you may enroll one of your technically qualified educators free of charge into the MCT Program and additional qualified educators may join at a 25% discount.

Your educators who are already members in the MCT Program are invited to renew their MCT membership any time between March 1 and April 30, 2014; however, we encourage all MCTs to renew quickly to ensure uninterrupted access to their MCT resources and benefits.  

Please discuss MCT renewal with your educators and make sure those who joined the MCT Program during a previous enrollment period plan for a swift MCT renewal.   

MCT Renewal actions

·         Review your educators’ certifications against the list of those that qualify for the MCT Program.  ITA MCTs who desire to renew in the MCT Program must possess a current qualifying Microsoft Certification or qualification eligible for the MCT Program.

·         Understand the MCT Program renewal requirements including the instructional quantity and quality requirement as validated by Metrics that Matter.

o          - NOTE: If you have concerns with your MCTs ability to meet the renewal requirements based on organizational rules or operations, please reach out to your Microsoft Regional Service Center. 

·         Access your voucher on the IT Academy Web site and send your voucher to the MCT you wish to renew free of charge. 

·         Provide your other MCTs with your IT Academy ID. They will need this to receive the 25% discount upon enrollment.  If you plan to pay the renewal fee for any of your MCTs, they can indicate that their employer will pay the fee when they  renew.

 Why join the MCT Program?

Joining the MCT Program will make your educators part of a thriving worldwide community; a community of educators that share resources and best practices. The MCT community is made up of trainers who actively deliver training and support other MCTs as they train students around the world.  The MCT Program offers a wide range of benefits and resources including a tailored MCT Software & Services subscription based on the type of training you deliver, discounts on certification exams, one free copy of every digital Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC), hundreds of hours of recorded readiness presentations, and much more. 

 Please discuss MCT renewal with your MCTs and make sure they plan for a smooth renewal.

·         MCTs can renew quickly and easily with the MCT Enrollment Tool 

Resource Kits

In addition, to the resources available to you on the Microsoft IT Academy website including the eLearning Library, DreamSpark are now offering the following Resource Kits at http://www.facultyresourcecenter.com/curriculum/ResourceKits/Default.aspx?c1=en-us&c2=0

These kits are grouped by subject and provide links to curriculum material and resources such as presentations, labs, exercises, software tools, programming tutorials, academic papers, research talks and reference material plus source code, documentation, specifications and more.