Date: 29/09/2008

August 29 2008 marks the official launch of the Microsoft IT Academy (ITA) Program in China. Aiming to train IT talents through innovative IT curriculum reforms, the program serves as a connection between students, educators and corporations. Through the program, Microsoft is committed to helping Chinese higher educational institutions to train IT workers with practical skills in demand so as to fill in the shortage in IT workforce accelerated by the fast development of information industry. Microsoft will offer world class IT curriculum and assistance to the participating schools in their educational reform and support the training and development of teachers. Students will be able to master the cutting-edge technologies through practical training and lay a solid foundation for their future employment and career development.

As the market promoter and implementer of the Microsoft ITA program, ATA is responsible for program marketing and execution.

Dr. Zhang Hongjiang, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft China Research & Development Group and Managing Director of Advanced Technology Center, Microsoft Research, together with the presidents of five Chinese universities, participated in the ITA launch ceremony.
”Training and keeping a pool of IT talents is very important in filling the shortage of IT workforce, promoting the advancement of information technology and establishing a healthy and active IT eco-system. We are pleased to join hands with Chinese higher educational institutions in helping students to gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills by providing world-class technology curriculum and abundant internet-based learning resources, so that we would offer a consistent, stable and qualified talent pool for the Chinese IT industry,” Dr. Zhang of Microsoft stated in the ceremony.

“Talent is the core competence of an enterprise as well as the foundation for its consistent development. However, an enterprise needs talents with practical skills and innovative minds. It has been evidenced from our past experience that graduates of Microsoft IT curriculum are able to work independently soon after they get on their jobs and perform well. The launch of Microsoft ITA program will help schools to train more qualified talents to meet the growing demands of the market.” said Mr. Hou Guangming, Vice President of HiSoft (International) Corporation, an IT outsourcing service provider with global presence.

Microsoft ITA program is committed to providing comprehensive IT learning solutions for institutions, teachers and students. As Microsoft’s global educational partners, participating schools will integrate Microsoft technology courses and MCP certification programs into their curriculum designed to meet the market demand of IT vendors while offering varying learning experiences for students. The curriculum covers the latest Microsoft technologies demanded by the market.

The ITA program is designed to benefit both teachers and students by providing training opportunities to teachers to facilitate better planning, management and instruction of the courses. Online learning materials are also available to enable students to experience the latest Microsoft technologies and products.

In addition, participating schools are also authorized to use the Microsoft IT Academy logo and license plate, marketing tool kit and recruitment package. Microsoft will also provide internship opportunities and organize activities such as skills contest etc. as ways to promote the program.

Five Chinese universities including Beijing Polytechnic University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Fujian Normal University, Quanzhou Normal College, and Hunan College of Information received the ITA program license during the ceremony.