Thursday, February 26, 2015

Microsoft & Kenya National Library Service to train 1 Million IT scholars

http://goo.gl/RmOk0N



A new campaign dubbed InspiredMe has been launched to train, qualify and certify more than 1 Million young technology scholars in the next 5 years in a move expected to propel the lives of millions of young Kenyans towards more specialized fields in technology.

#InspiredMe is an initiative of certification exam development, delivery and program management firm Certiport has partnered with Microsoft, Kenya National Library Services, GEMS Cambridge International School and the Ministry of Information Communication and Technology.

#InspiredMe will take scholars through programs such as;


  • Microsoft IT Academies – Institutions that will offer the training and testing for certification. KNLS centers will host members of the public whose academic institutions do not have IT the requisite infrastructure.
  • Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship; Kenya’s top 4 performers represent Kenya at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Dallas Texas. This is the first year Kenya will participate at the championships.
  • IT Boot camps (Held during school holidays at GEMS Cambridge International School)
  • GEMS Cambridge International School will give a Scholarships to top IT performers from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Internship opportunities for certified scholars at leading institutions to give youth work experience.

Impact Africa will manage the 5 year programme while Certiport will be the authenticator of the training sourced from Microsoft’s IT Academies. KNLS will in the first phase make available 27 Library Centers around the country.

With the first ever Kenyan chapter of Microsoft Office Specialist Championship set for 29th May, 2015, aspiring scholars have 3 months to have their academic institutions enroll for a rousing competition season that will also see counties recognize their local champions in Microsoft Word 2010 & 2013, Microsoft Excel 2010 & 2013 or Microsoft PowerPoint 2010 & 2013.

The World Championship in Dallas, Texas will seek to recognize students who demonstrate a mastery of Microsoft Office products. For the first time, Kenya will have an opportunity to field four candidates to face more than 400,000 students from 130 countries across the globe that will participate in the competition.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Announcing the 2015 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship

In its 13th year, the 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship attracted more than 400,000 unique candidates from 130 countries who competed to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office products. 123 student finalists participated in the final round of competition.

Qualify for a chance to represent your country at the World Championships in August 9-12 in Dallas, Texas!

Prove your skills in Microsoft Word, Excel® and PowerPoint® and you could win an invitation to compete in the World Championship finals in Dallas, Texas, USA!
The Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship is an excellent opportunity for you to showcase your Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills, have some fun, impress student colleagues and gain recognition.

What is Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship?

The 2015 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship presented by Certiport, Inc. is a global competition that tests students’ skills on Microsoft Office Word, Excel® and PowerPoint. Top students are invited to represent their respective countries at the World Championship. At the World Championship Event, each student competes for World Champion in his or her category (Microsoft Word 2010, Microsoft Word 2013, Microsoft Excel® 2010, Microsoft Excel® 2013, and Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2010). In some countries or regions, students are required to participate in a regional test event as well, and the winners of that event continue on to the World Championship.

Who can participate in the Championship?

Anyone may participate in the qualification round of testing, but to participate in the World Championship, candidates must be students that are enrolled in an approved academic institution recognized by the state or country in which it operates. Students must also be between the ages of 13 and 22 (as of June 15, 2015). Students participating in the World Championship must be able to provide proof of age and student status upon request.
How do I participate in the Championship?
Participating competitors may enter the Championship (Qualifying Round) in either of two ways:
  1. Register Eligible Exam Immediately Prior to Testing: If the eligible Exam is taken at an ACADEMIC Certiport Authorized Testing Centre, the exam delivery tool will prompt the student to register his/her score into the Championship immediately prior to taking the exam. If the candidate chooses to submit his/her score to the Championship, the results of that exam will be automatically entered into the Championship.
  2. Register Eligible Exam(s) Following Testing: Students may also register any eligible Exam(s) after taking the exam(s) by logging onto their Candidate Home Page at www.certiport.com, clicking on the Championship link, and following the registration instructions. Eligible Exams registered using this tool must be registered during the official Championship dates of the country in which the eligible Exam(s) was taken. Eligible Exams taken by students at any COMMERCIAL Certiport Authorized Testing Centre may also be registered using this tool.

What versions of Microsoft Office will the 2014 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship cover?

The 2014 World Championship will include the following six (6) tracks:
  • Microsoft Office Specialist Word 2010
  • Microsoft Office Specialist Excel® 2010
  • Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint® 2010
  • Microsoft Office Specialist Word 2013
  • Microsoft Office Specialist Excel® 2013
  • Microsoft Office Specialist PowerPoint® 2013

When is the Championship taking place in my country?

The Kenya Microsoft Office Specialist national championships will take place on May 29, 2015.

How are the Word, Excel and PowerPoint Country Champions selected?

Country Champions will be selected in one of two ways by the Certiport competition operator:
  1. Top Score Method: Competition Operator reviews the competition results for the country and selects the student with the top score for Word, the student with the top score for Excel® per track and the student with the top score for PowerPoint per track (version 2010 or 2013). These students represent the country at the World Championship Event. Certiport retains the right to review local Competition Operator selections.
  2. Country Final Method: Competition Operator reviews the competition results for the country and invites several top students, to compete at a country finals event. The winners of the country finals event (in Word, Excel® and PowerPoint) represent the country at the World Championship Event. Certiport retains the right to review Competition Operator selections.

In the event two participants in the same country have the same high Exam score, the participant who completed the Exam in the least amount of time will be the winner. Decisions of Competition Operators and judges are final.

How are the World Champions in Word, Excel® and PowerPoint selected?

All Regional/Country Champions will be invited to the World Championship Event to compete for the title of the World Champion in Word 2010 or 2013, Excel® 2010 or 2013 and PowerPoint 2010 or 2013. At the World Championship Event, all Regional/Country Champions will be tested in a proctored lab on their respective exams. Generally, students will only be asked to complete their exams one time, however, in rare instances Certiport may require a second round of testing.
All participants in the World Championship will be responsible for preparing themselves to compete in their respective exams. Certiport and/or Certiport’s partners may provide students with preparation materials to help facilitate each student’s training on the software.

How many different types of eligible exams can I submit into the Competition?

During the Qualifying Round, a Student can participate in MULTIPLE Exam tracks. For example, they can submit an Excel 2010 and Excel 2013 Exam. However, if they qualify to participate in a Regional/Country Round or the Final Round in Dallas, Texas, USA, they can only compete in only ONE Exam track.

Where can I take an eligible exam?

Eligible exams can be taken at any Academic Certiport Authorized Testing Centre.
For more details contact:
Mr George Kiptalam
Tabarin Consulting
P.O. Box 38104
00623 Nairobi
Kenya
Cell:   +254 (0) 731 433 904
Email: george.kiptalam@tabarinconsulting.com

Cloud computing will be a gold mine in the post-COVID era

Companies needed to embrace change as the COVID-19 pandemic brought new challenges and continues to have a multi-sector impact on nations, b...