HEC, Microsoft launch Certification from Home Platform for Pakistani students

ISLAMABAD: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has reached an agreement with Microsoft to provide students a Certification from Home Platform for Microsoft Certifications. 

The certification will be provided free of cost  to the first 2,000 students who register for the opportunity, said a press release issued on Sunday.

The certification platform provides students with a prescribed curriculum roadmap for technology skill development and certification. Specific areas of study under the certification include productivity, computer science, data science, and Information Technology infrastructure. 

Additionally, certifications of Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) and Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) provide useful credentials for individuals seeking to validate their skills and advance their careers.

The exams covered include Office 365, cloud fundamental courses covering Azure fundamentals, Dynamics 365 fundamentals and Microsoft 365 fundamentals.

“Digital transformation has been at the forefront of every industry in the last few years, and education is no different,” said HEC Chairman Dr Tariq Banuri.

He further said that while working with Microsoft, HEC has been able to bring in a set of tools and technology offerings that can help establish a technology-rich culture in the higher education sector of the country.

He added that enabling students to acquire more advanced skills not only helps them in their careers but also strengthens the technical potential of Pakistani industry and academia.

Commenting on the agreement, Microsoft-Pakistan Country Education Lead Jibran Jamshad said that the modern day workplace requires adaptability to frequent technological changes and problem-solving strategies and that this platform will help students learn such skills.

“The variety of skills you can learn in the Microsoft Certification Program allows you to display your flexibility to current and prospective employers. These credentials demonstrate that you can use a variety of strategies to solve problems and resolve the concerns of consumers as well as stakeholders more effectively,” he said.

He further added that the agreement is a major step towards bridging the gap between education and employability and for helping students acquire professional skills while they have more time on hand during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Microsoft and HEC have been working together under a strategic partnership over the last decade to promote the use of information technology in the higher education sector.

The partnership covers all public and private sector universities in the country, with multiple programmes aimed at enhancing the skills of the youth and providing them with multiple platforms which can be used to help build their capacity and showcase their technical potential at a global level.

Many students have found that they have more time at hand during the long COVID-19 break, which can give them the space to focus on developing marketable skills in addition to theoretical knowledge. 

With Certification from Home Platform students will be able to conveniently select the technology area of their choice and learn at home with in-depth tutorials and self-study videos and also take exams.