|
For Immediate Release
FETAC Recognises Microsoft Office Specialist Accreditation
DUBLIN, IRELAND (September 15, 2003) - FETAC, the Further Education and Training Awards Council,
today announced that it will award credits for Microsoft Office Specialist certification towards specific
FETAC awards.
Stan McHugh, Chief Executive FETAC says “FETAC currently awards credits for a range of other certification
including Junior and Leaving Certificate subjects and Introductory Vocational Skills Certificates from FÁS,
CERT and Teagasc. Extending this scheme to include the Microsoft Office Specialist programme means that upon
successful completion of their Office Specialist course, learners can use their certification to count towards
a national award.“
FETAC is the single national award body for the further education and training sector in Ireland, incorporating
the certification work of BIM, FÁS, NCVA, CERT (Fáilte Ireland) and Teagasc. FETAC provides its learners with
systematic progression pathways and creates opportunities for all learners in further education and training
to have their achievements recognised internationally.
Derrick McCourt, Group Manager Public Sector, Microsoft Ireland says: “We are delighted that FETAC has
agreed to recognise Microsoft Office Specialist at FETAC (NCVA) Level 2 because it supports the work we are
doing within the Microsoft IT Academy programme for education.”
The Microsoft IT Academy is a new global programme that involves Microsoft partnering with the education
sector to provide support for educators and partners that address the IT training needs of the present and
future workforce in Ireland. The Office Specialist program lies at the core of the IT Academy as the official
desktop certification program for the Microsoft suite of desktop applications. Office Specialist is currently
offered by a range of training providers including FÁS centres, VEC’s, schools, colleges, training providers
and industry.
Craig Bewley, Managing Director of Prodigy, the Master Distributor of the Office Specialist Program in Ireland
and IT Academy Program Manager, welcomes the inclusion of the Office Specialist Accreditation into FETAC’s award system:
“Extending the accreditation program directly into FETAC will make it easier for students to obtain globally
recognised Office Specialist certification, while also progressing to a full FETAC Level 2 award.”
About FETAC
FETAC was set up as a statutory body in June 2001 by the Minister for Education and Science under the
Qualifications (Education & Training) Act, 1999. As the national awarding body for further education and
training in Ireland, the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) gives people the opportunity
to gain recognition for learning in education or training centres, in the work place and in the community.
FETAC's functions include making and promoting awards, validating programmes, monitoring and ensuring the
quality of programmes and determining standards.
Programmes leading to FETAC awards are offered nationwide by a wide range of providers in diverse settings,
including BIM, Fáilte Ireland (CERT), FÁS, Teagasc, VEC's, adult and community education and training centres,
Institutes of Technology and the workplace.
About Prodigy
CProdigy is the Master Distributor of IC³ in Ireland as well as the Microsoft Office Specialist examinations.
IC³ stands for Internet and Computing Core Certification and was released globally in February 2002 by Certiport,
Inc, a leading provider of global, performance-based certification programs, after a two-year development process
that researched 219 computer-related, subject-matters in 19 countries. IC³ is a global, professionally validated,
standards-based certification program that provides the industry proof that an individual has the essential computing
knowledge and skills in today's digital economy.
The Microsoft Office Specialist Program is Microsoft’s official desktop certification Program, aimed at
increasing customer productivity and measuring and validating users’ skills within the Microsoft Office suite
of desktop applications. Deployed throughout more than 4000 testing centres around the world, Microsoft Certification
enables individuals to prove their knowledge of Microsoft Office and employers to ensure a return on their investment
and a reduction in their support costs.
Additional information on the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Program can be found at www.prodigy.ie or 00353-1-2360424.
For more information, please contact:
Alexandra Stones - Prodigy - (01) 2360424
Leeann Matthews - PRG - (045) 982539
|
