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New Skills for More & Better Jobs in Europe Delivering 21st Century Skills for Employability in Europe

In partnership with Schools Local Community Centres IT Academies Government andIndustry Partners Workers with better skills get better wages

There is a strong relationship between skill levels and the possibility of having a good career st and a decent salary. For example, Delivering 21 Century Skills one additional year of school or training, is estimated at about 6.5% in terms of increased salary and its for Employability in Europe effect could be as high as 9%. And the link between skill levels and individual wages are also more closely related in periods of rapid technological change.

As a leader in information technology innovation and developing productivity tools around the world, Microsoft is committed to help address Employability Skills are more one of the greatest challenges facing Europeans and their governments: vital than ever in an ageing unemployment. Europe

For Europe to realise its full potential as a knowledge economy, it needs a From 2005 to 2030 the number of people aged over 65 will rise by knowledge economy workforce Ð one in which all citizens have basic IT skills 52.3% (40 million), while the age and future generations gain these skills as part of their education. Europe group of 15-64 will decrease by 6.8% also needs greater numbers of people with more advanced IT skills who (20.8 million). The ratio of dependent provide the infrastructure and innovation needed for the knowledge young and old people to people of economy. working age will increase from 49 per cent in 2005 to 66 per cent in By partnering with local and national governments, local business and 2030. To offset the loss of working- community groups, Microsoft has already shown how delivering skills for age people, we will need an employability can transform lives and create opportunities. We are prepared employment rate of over 70 per cent. to take our efforts a significant step further and to work in partnership with European Commission Green other representatives of the private sector, governments, academia and Paper on Demographic Change, community organisations to provide access to IT skills for 20 million 2005 Europeans by 2010. Ò Learning IT skills opened up a whole new In simple terms, employability is about being capable of getting and keeping world for me and showed me that cutting fulfilling work. European employer surveys consistently cite the most edge technologies can be a precious aid to help people with disabilities create their own important skills for employment across sectors and organisations as being: opportunities and regain access to the literacy, the ability to apply numbers (numeracy), IT skills, communication professional world.Ò skills, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and customer service skills. Martin Kovar, co-founder PCs Against Barriers, Czech Republic

"Increasing employment in Europe remains These skills enable people to: one of the top priorities for reform. Labour market reforms that have been undertaken in ¥ Get their first job recent years are beginning to bear fruit. A key ¥ Adapt to new business methods objective is to increase labour market participation, especially of the young, women, ¥Tostart their own successful small older workers, persons with disabilities and businesses legal migrants and minorities. To achieve ¥ Move more readily from sectors these objectives, work should be conducted in where jobs are declining to close cooperation with social partners." sectors where growth is strong, From the Presidency Conclusions of the especially people over 50 Brussels European Council, March 2006 ¥ Extend working life through interesting part-time jobs and contribute their knowledge and experience to community organisations after retiring.

"ICT skills training is a key vehicle for employability and job creation in a competitive and inclusive Europe and is at the heart of the EU Jobs and Growth Partnership goals and the objectives recently discussed at the World Summit on information Society in Tunisia. The creation of the European Alliance on Skills for Employability of which Microsoft is a founding partner is part of our commitment to this goal."

Jean-Philippe Courtois, President, Microsoft International

2 MicrosoftÕs 21st Century Skills For Employability Initiative

At Microsoft, we take on big challenges. World-wide, we have committed to help train and give access to technology to more than 250 million people by 2010. In Europe, together with other founding members of the European Working with government, industry and Alliance on Skills for Employability, we aim to help train and provide access to NGO partners across Europe we are technology to 20 million Europeans by 2010. investing in a comprehensive approach to skills training partnerships that aim to In deepening our commitment to 21st Century Skills for Employability across support and assist: Europe we will build on a number of Microsoft programmes that are already ¥TodayÕs untapped work force Ð to gain well established across the EU: basic IT skills for work and life through local community IT training centres, IT academies and online training tools ¥ Unlimited Potential supports community technology centres with software, curriculum, refurbished PCs and training grants to provide IT skills training for the Ð Especially unemployed youth under unemployed, people with disabilities, the elderly and refugees, as well as train a new 25 who have dropped out of formal generation of community trainers. To date we have provided support to more than education 2,000 community technology centres, and provided skills training for more than Ð And older workers over 50 who need 200,000 people, in all parts of the EU25. new skills and confidence to find jobs in a different sector later in life, to ¥ITAcademies supports accredited academic institutions to provide students with a extend their working lives, or to premium education on the latest Microsoft technologies through academic education resume work after unemployment or tracks, rigorous Microsoft certification exams, and training for IT-related career working in the home. opportunities. To date in the EU25 we have established IT Academy agreements with ¥TomorrowÕs European knowledge more than 2,000 institutions and more than half a million individuals have benefited workers Ð by bringing IT skills into the from this programme. mainstream of schools curricula with an emphasis on support and training for ¥Partners in Learning supports primary and secondary schools to increase access to teachers, students and their technology and skills by providing software, IT lessons, refurbished PCs and helping to communities. expand teacher training. To date in the EU we have signed Partners in Learning memoranda of understanding with 22 governments and provided support to more ¥Today and tomorrowÕs IT professionals Ð than half a million teachers across Europe. by supporting universities and training colleges across Europe to provide fi rst- class IT diploma and degree education on the latest technologies. ¥ And thus also supporting EuropeÕs 20 The importance of million SMEs Ð the heartbeat of the EU economy Ð by widening their skills training certification recruitment base of local people who are able to use IT as tools for business growth and innovation. Independent research commissioned by Microsoft shows that Human Resources managers in Europe: ¥ Regard certified IT skills as important for both IT and non-IT roles; Ò While many seniors may never have ¥Would choose candidates with IT skills certification over candidates used a computer, SeniorNet classes and without them; and Microsoft Works Suite make it very easy ¥Would pay an average of 6.9% additional salary for these certified skills. for them to learn.This is a great Our skills training programmes provide recognised curricula and opportunity for members of my certification in national languages. to ensure the skill levels obtained are generation to keep engaged and active.Ó valued in the labour market. Fran Middleton, SeniorNet, Sweden

ÒWequickly seized upon the Microsoft IT Academy programme as a way of introducing meaningful vocational studies to our pupils, teaching staff and the local community.Staff like the skills-based approach and many have already passed several qualifications.They also found the immediacy of the interactive testing environment very useful and were keen to make extra use of the step by step courseware.Ó Des Reynolds, Head of IT, Benjamin Britten High School, Lowestoft, UK

"Working in partnership with industry, CompTIA develops globally-recognised, vendor-neutral certifications that are mapped to real job roles.Students and technicians worldwide rely on CompTIA certifications as a perfect entry-point to an ICT career and as a valuable skills builder. Industry acceptance of CompTIA certifications, and endorsement by the major IT vendors such as Cisco, HP and Microsoft, makes them a consistent standard for recruiters as well as a skills benchmark.CompTIA certified ICT technicians are well-respected in their field of work and have the proven skills to make a contribution in the workplace from day one." Matthew Poyiadgi, Regional Director Europe, CompTIA 3 From Skills Training to Good Jobs through Partnerships

Partnerships that match trainees Partnerships to support SMEs Ð the goals by consulting with local jobs heartbeat of the EU economy and training a further 250,000 individuals from Small and Medium In any city or province, the people Our Commercial Training Enterprise businesses by 2010. who know the most about skills Partners Ð Certified Partners for shortages and job vacancies are Learning Solutions (CPLS) - are full- usually the local and regional job service learning development Our new Digital Literacy centres, Chambers ofCommerce and organisations who deliver high quality Curriculum Federations ofsmall and medium training solutions to commercial enterprises. They also provide the organisations. In 2006 Microsoft will offer a new most direct path "from training to Digital Literacy curriculum that will the job marketÓ through internships, Global CPLS partners deliver project- be available free online and will be a work experience placements, job based and organisational skills globally supported, broadly vacancy portals and support services. assessment, IT, Developer and Business endorsed ICT skills standard which Skills training, and certification potential employers can use to Microsoft is forming local preparation to individuals and validate a candidateÕs ICT skills partnerships with these organisations commercial organisations ofall sizes. proficiency through certification. to bring together our IT skills Development and inclusion ofour training knowledge and resources In the period 2004-2005 over 40,000 Digital Literacy curriculum with their wider business skills Europeans from business received IT completes our learning continuum training and job placement support training and it is expected that our and forms the starting point for services. partners will contribute to the Lisbon Skills for the 21st Century.

Partnerships to provide IT skills for teachers and adult learning institutions

Our IT Academy programme helps universities, training colleges and other academic institutions to deliver affordable high-quality vocational IT training to attract individuals to stay in or go back to school to improve their skills or pursue a career as an IT professional.

The IT Academy network also supports institutions in tailoring their curricula to local industry needs and to expand their community programmes for life long learning.

The IT Academy Student Portal connects students with jobs and businesses with skilled workers. The Portal contains ¥Atechnical library to help students identify and select career paths and undertake career assessments ¥Astudent mentor centre where students can gain career guidance from established professionals ¥ And a career portal service that provides job and internship listings posted by local businesses. 4 The Digital Literacy curriculum is designed for individuals with basic reading level and a need for digital literacy skills. It is an integrated and holistic curriculum that includes: The Microsoft IT Academy programme already operates in ¥ eLearning courses (also available in .doc format) 22 EU countries and we aim to ¥ Course-level assessments double the number of ¥ Digital Literacy certificate exam. partnerships in the next year.

Microsoft is deepening its employability skills partnership investments in these EU countries: Ò Information technology is one of the universityÕs key areas of research ¥ Austria ¥ Italy and teaching so we thought letÕs use ¥ Belgium ¥ Latvia this knowledge to help the local ¥ Czech Republic ¥ Netherlands communityÓ. ¥ France ¥Poland ArsŽnio Reis,Technical Director, ¥ Germany ¥Portugal Centre of Informatics, Universidade ¥Greece ¥ Spain de Tr‡s-os-Montes, Portugal ¥Ireland ¥ United Kingdom

For further information about the above initiatives, please contact Elena Bonfiglioli, ÒIbelieve computers are the way of Director Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft EMEA ([email protected]). the modern world. I need to know about them even if I donÕt know where my permanent home will be.Ó Supreme,ayoung refugee from Nigeria living in St Petersburg, Russia where he enrolled in the community technology centre set up by the Red Cross, UNHCR and Microsoft in 2004.

5 Examples of Microsoft Partnerships on Skills for Employability in Europe

In Poland Microsoft supports the Ikonk@ project of the Nowoczesna Polska (Modern Poland) Foundation which has established public Internet access in more than one hundred small town and rural libraries of North-East Poland, one of the poorest regions of the country. Ikonk@ users have access to web- based educational and informational content and the librariesÕ employees In Austria, Microsoft supports the Microsoft and its other affiliate assure secure and efficient use of the European Computer Driving License corporations to develop and computers, Internet and software. Ñ Barrier Free (ECDL-barrier free) implement digital inclusion project to promote information innovations across Europe to enable technology (IT) skills for people with more marginalised job seekers access disabilities and support their the employment opportunities they participation in the job market. ECDL desire. Barrier-Free follows a Ôdesign for allÕ approach whereby broad target groups with special learning needs In Germany Microsoft has partnered can benefit from the ECDL-barrier with the Federal Ministry for Family free training materials. Partners and Youth and the Initiative D21 to include Microsoft Austria, the improve the IT skills of disadvantaged Integrated Study Institute of the young people. An open access online University of Linz, OCG learning platform using the Unlimited In Portugal, Microsoft is developing (Oesterreichische Computer Potential curriculum has been a partnership with CITEVE (Centro Gesellschaft) and bit media e- launched and the staff of more than Tecnol—gico das Indœstrias Txteis e Learning solution, with support from 60 local non-profit employment de Vestu‡rio) the training body for the Austrian Federal Ministry of PortugalÕs textiles and clothing Education, Science and Culture. In industry. Four IT learning centres will 2005 the project was awarded a be established in cities in the Special Prize for e-inclusion in the heartlands of the textiles industry. Multimedia State Prize scheme. The training centres aims to provide an estimated ten percent of unemployed former textiles workers In Ireland, Microsoft is part of FIT, with the skills and confidence to an industry-led initiative involving prepare for new jobs or to establish major corporations (AIB, Alchemy, themselves as small entrepreneurs. AOL, Apple, CGS, Creative Labs, CSC, CITEVE will also make its Danone, DELL, Eircom, HP, IBM, employability services available to Oracle, Pivotal, Siemens, Skillsoft, support the UP training participants Symantec) aimed at enabling on completion of the training marginalised job seeker access programme. quality employment opportunities training agencies and youth centres through the acquisition of have been trained. The goal of the marketable ICT Skills. To date FIT has initiative is to enable the centres to facilitated over 5,500 people gain the deliver compelling IT courses to skills to successfully compete in an young people, spark their interest in increasingly knowledge based IT and better prepare them for the economy. FIT is partnering with job market. A Community Learning Program

ÒWhen I took the FIT course it set me off in a completely new direction. Working for a big company like Siemens is a way above anything I ever imaginedÉÉ. It has really changed my life,literally.Ó Paul Murray, User Account Management, Siemens.

ÒThe FIT course was brilliant and the tutors were great,they gave everyone a chance. Now I am working at CGS,I really feel like IÕm making a difference and every week IÕm doing more and more,I love it!Ó Jessica Molloy, Project Manager Assistant, Connect Global Solutions.

6 European Alliance on Skills for Employability

Ò The most important phase of the European UnionÕs Growth and Jobs Strategy is underway and the spotlight is firmly on delivering results. Partnerships between the Member States and the private sector can also make a major contribution to EuropeÕs competitiveness as a region and for its citizens. I welcome the creation of the European Alliance on Skills for Employability. The Alliance is a leading example of how innovative business to business collaborations, working with different stakeholders, can provide opportunities to the European unemployed. Access to skills training, content provision and certification can help older workers, people with disabilities and the young to face the challenges of unemployment and the changing workplace and so contribute to EuropeÕs prosperity. I commend this initiative as it represents one of the best practices in this field.Ó

Vladimir Spidla, EU Commissioner for Employment,Social Affairs & Equal Opportunity,January 2006

Launched in January 2006, the Alliance comprises global organisations operating across the European Union.We share a strong commitment to support the EUÕs Growth and Jobs Partnership and to facilitate the provision of skills training for employability to disadvantaged groups.

Over the next five years the Alliance will invest significant funding and expertise to: ¥ Help provide 20 million people in the EU with technology access,training and certification in IT and other skills ÒRaising employment is the most effective way to generate growth and promote social inclusion. The challenges posed by required by current or future employers over the coming an aging population make the modernisation of social five years; protection systems and the promotion of a life-cycle approach ¥ Focus on young under- and unemployed workers,older to work all the more important. To enhance access to at-risk workers with lower employability prospects,and employment for people of all ages and to raise productivity, people with disabilities; the EU needs higher andmore-effective investment in human ¥ Build upon and expand our core competencies and our capital and lifelong learning. Highly skilled people are the strongest currency of the 21st century. Partnership between existing education,training and community programmes; businesses and stakeholders for the common goal of raising ¥ Foster synergies between programmes with the aim to employability skills is key to success. I welcome the creation of deliver higher employability opportunities and more the European Alliance on Skills for Employability as a vehicle positive impact to training beneficiaries; to drive employability, competitiveness and growth for the ¥ Jointly raise awareness on the importance of delivering people of Europe.Ó 21st century Skills for Employability in Europe by GŸnter Verheugen, promoting business to business partnerships and Vice President of the European Commission,Commissioner collaborations for sustainable growth,jobs and for Enterprise and Industry competitiveness in Europe.

The Alliance welcomes interest from potential new partners, please contact: eSCC at email: [email protected]

JosŽ Manuel Barroso,President of the European Commission,with the founding members of the Alliance in January 2006

7 By applying an innovative approach to delivering IT skills in the classroom and the community, Microsoft and its partners have already shown we can make a difference. But there is much more to do to address the needs of 20 million unemployed Europeans.

Will you join this challenge?

We are looking for innovative programmes and partnerships to deliver skills for employability.

For more information contact:

Elena Bonfiglioli, Director Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft EMEA Jim Wynn,Partners in Learning Manager, Education Solutions Group, Microsoft EMEA [email protected] Microsoft Corporate Affairs Europe, tel: +3225500610