Since 2014, the STEM Council has been providing a complete information technology (IT) education solution through the Microsoft Imagine Academy. This program is designed to help drive employability, digital literacy, technical and STEM-focused training and certification, and 21st-century workforce development for students.
Each year, 150 Iowa schools take part in the Microsoft Imagine Academy. A total of 11,578 students have been certified from 2014 to 2019. During the 2018-2019 school year, there were 2,102 student certifications and 83 Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certifications. Recently added certifications include the MTA certification for IT Infrastructure and Data Science.
The increasing importance of computer science as a basic skill in the 21 st century has brought a new thrust to the program. The STEM Council is opening a Request for Proposals (RFP) to provide the IT certification for the next three years with an emphasis on computer science. For more information about the RFP, visit https://obo.uni.edu/purchasing/current-bid-solicitations or contact Molly Ungs at molly.ungs@uni.edu .
“This is a great time to enhance the program and increase the focus on computer science as a growing need in the workforce. The demand for IT certifications is growing and we need to adapt to meet the needs of employers,” said Ann Watts, the STEM Council’s project coordinator for the Microsoft Imagine Academy.
For more information about the Imagine Academy, contact project coordinator Ann Watts at Watts@IowaSTEM.gov.
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