Students at More Than 600 Academic Institutions Prepare for Lucrative High-Tech Careers

Students at More Than 600 Academic Institutions Prepare for Lucrative High-Tech Careers

BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 12, 1998 — Microsoft Corp. today announced at the National Information Technology Workforce Convocation that more than 600 high schools, colleges and universities nationwide have engaged the Microsoft® Authorized Academic Training Program (AATP) to provide students with training for lucrative careers as network managers, systems administrators and programmers. The number of students trained through the program grew at a rate of 400 percent during 1996 and 1997, and AATP is planning to train more than 100,000 students by the end of the 1998 academic year.

“Our goal is to provide access to technology training in an environment that is convenient and affordable for students – educational institutions,” said Nancy Lewis, general manager of worldwide training and certification at Microsoft. “Through AATP, thousands of high school and college students have received the highly sought after skills needed to compete, and to take advantage of well-paying positions in the high-tech industry.”

As the information technology (IT) industry grows and the gap between needed and available trained workers widens, tremendous career opportunities are available with the average salary for a Microsoft Certified Professional (Microsoft’s entry-level certification) starting at $57,300 according to MCP Magazine’s 1997 salary survey.

Fueling the Work Force of the Future

Technology training for students in academic institutions is an important way of fueling the IT work force with skilled professionals. AATP prepares students – whether inner-city youths in vocational schools, adults switching careers, or senior citizens who want to return to the work force – for IT careers.

To provide students with instructors trained in the latest Microsoft networking and development tool technology, Microsoft conducts the Skills 2000 Educator Training Initiative, which provides instructors at schools nationwide with instructor-led training on the Microsoft Windows NT® operating system.

“The incredible demand for authorized Microsoft training has presented us with a wonderful problem, the need to constantly train new instructors and set up new labs,” said Ann Beheler, professor and AATP coordinator at Richland College in Dallas. “With the help of Microsoft, our programs are definitely paying off. We see graduating students obtain valuable jobs in the high-tech industry as a result of their training.”

Launched in 1995, the Microsoft AATP provides tools and resources to approved schools to facilitate delivery of courseware that prepares students for certification on Microsoft products. More than 600 institutions in 38 states and nine Canadian provinces are currently participating in the Microsoft AATP. More information on the program is available on the Web at http://www.microsoft.com/aatp/ .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

Microsoft and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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