case study: Box Hill Institute

IT Skills and Certification Put Australian Students on Fast Track to Employment

ox Hill Institute (BHI) in prepares students for ’s workforce by ensuring that they have the skills employers need today and in the future. BAs a partner in the Microsoft IT Academy Program, BHI helps students develop a high level of IT skills literacy. Along with other program benefits, students earn industry certifications that help qualify them for the workplace or that count toward higher-education courses. For students earning Advanced Diplomas at BHI, certification and other program strengths have led to a job placement rate of more than 90 percent.

Education Needs When it comes to information and communications technology (ICT) skills training, Box Hill Institute has earned a reputation as one of the leading trade- and vocation-based training institutes in the state of . BHI is one of 17 government-owned Institutes of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in the state, and a key part of its mission is to work closely with the business commu- nity to identify skills needs and help address shortages in Victoria and across Australia.

Simon Taylor, manager of the Centre for Information & Communications Technology at BHI, says technology has become a major enabler of a growing Customer: Box Hill Institute of knowledge-based economy in Australia. Technical and Further Education (TAFE) “In the last 10 to 20 years, the Australian industry has moved from being Web site: boxhillinstitute.edu.au manufacturing-based to services-based—similar to the U.S. and other Western countries,” Taylor says. “We need a curriculum that allows us to deliver a level Number of students: More than of training that satisfies those skills needs within the industry, from a service 40,000 and service delivery perspective.” Number of faculty/staff: 1,400 Location: Victoria, Australia BHI also must meet the diverse training needs of the approximately 1,000 Industry: Education students who enroll in its ICT programs annually. Most students in BHI’s voca- tional programs range in age from 16 to 25, although a sizable number are Customer profile: Box Hill older adults. Some students choose a TAFE because they see it as a pathway to Institute is one of Australia’s higher education, in which case they take certificate-based courses that give leading vocational and education training providers. Its four them credit toward a college degree. Others come to develop vocational skills campuses in Melbourne offer a that will enable them to get a job in a technical field. range of trade- and vocation- based programs that focus on Solution developing the skills required for BHI has successfully incorporated Microsoft educational materials in its cer- the 21st century workforce. tificate programs for more than a decade. It cemented this strong relationship with Microsoft as one of the original members of the Microsoft IT Academy Software and services: program. Microsoft IT Academy Program

“As a Microsoft IT Academy member, Box Hill Institute has access to excellent resources and support that enable our students to get industry-relevant skills training,” says Taylor. “The blended the IT Academy program, BHI maps style of learning materials enables those certifications to the Australian our teachers to provide students with “Box Hill Institute believes Qualifications Framework (AQF). an inspiring mix of learning, with the strongly in Microsoft Because AQF is a national compe- online materials allowing our teach- tency-based set of standards, any ers to focus on individual mentoring certification for skills for training that students complete at of students, thus maximizing learning employability. We see BHI will be recognized across the outcomes.” it as a great addition to country as having fulfilled national competencies. BHI makes use of IT Academy materi- our vocationally focused als for multiple types of learners who programs, as well as a way to “Our ability to embed Microsoft seek training, including students differentiate ourselves in the IT Academy skills into nationally enrolled in vocationally oriented accredited Certificates, Diplomas programs and industry and commu- training market.” and Advanced Diplomas ensures nity customers who are retraining or —Simon Taylor, manager, our students exit with qualifications building skills in a particular area. Centre for Information & Communications that meet AQF requirements, with Technology, Box Hill Institute relevant and highly sought-after Industry certification is core to the industry skills,” Taylor says. training offered to both groups. BHI recognizes that skills certifications are secondary schools. BHI is also looking Brooks points out that the Microsoft highly regarded by employers, thus into using the Microsoft IT Academy MCSA certification has been embed- giving students with certifications the E-Learning courses as part of its dis- ded in BHI’s Advanced Diplomas for upper hand in the job market. tance learning program. In addition, the past 10 years, and in that time, BHI’s Centre for Business Programs is there have been numerous examples “Box Hill Institute believes strongly investigating the E-Learning materi- of student success stories. in Microsoft certification for skills for als for Microsoft® Office 2007 with an employability,” Taylor says. “We see it eye toward offering them to business “Combined with other program as a great addition to our vocationally students to prepare for certification. strengths, certifications have enabled focused programs, as well as a way to our students to achieve an employ- differentiate ourselves in the training Benefits ment rate of more than 90 percent market.” By applying Microsoft IT Academy for the past five years,” Brooks says. resources and support to its train- That rate refers to students finding While certifications are viewed as the ing efforts, BHI helps ensure that it jobs in a relevant industry field within most important IT Academy program provides enterprises, small businesses three months of completing their benefit at BHI, curriculum tools are and government with well-trained studies. Brooks notes that for 2008, also invaluable resources for teaching graduates who possess a high level of the employment rate reached 92 and learning. current IT skills literacy applicable to a percent. wide range of fields and types of work. “We primarily use the Microsoft Official Courseware material in BHI supports a number of sought- ©2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights instructor-led delivery of our after certifications in its training reserved. This document is for informa- tional purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES classes,” says David Brooks, Microsoft courses, including Microsoft Certified NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR IT Academy coordinator at BHI. Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT. Microsoft is a trade- “However, an emerging delivery Technology Specialist (MCTS), mark or registered trademark of Microsoft mode entails utilizing the rich set of Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Corporation in the United States and/or other online resources available through Technician (MCDST), Microsoft countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the Microsoft E-Learning portfolio.” Certified System Administrator the trademarks of their respective owners. (MCSA), and Microsoft Certified Document published March 2009. BHI uses the program’s E-Learning System Engineer (MCSE). resources to deliver professional development training to its staff and As with all the curriculum content, to teachers in Victoria’s primary and skills and knowledge gained from

Part number 098-111353 This case study is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied in this summary. Document published March 2009