Workforce WV & Microsoft team up to offer computer training
May 28, 2010 ·
West Virginia’s employment and training agency is involved in making free online computer training available to state residents. The effort is part of a nationwide program.
Gov. Manchin and Workforce West Virginia announced this week that, for the next 90
days, vouchers are available to any West Virginian who would like to gain
computer or software skills or improve their existing skills.
Russell Fry,
Acting Executive Director of Workforce West Virginia, says more than 6,000 vouchers are being
distributed in a partnership with the Microsoft Corporation. Fry says, "We have gotten this out to all the regions of the state and we're making it available through our website at www.workforcewv.org."
Fry says the
vouchers and the training are available to any citizen of the state but the unemployed are a
definite target, acknowledging that many people need new skills, an opportunity to improve their skills or acquire certification for skills they already have.
The vouchers are free and are good for classes offered by Microsoft Corp. through
a program called Elevate America.
Nationally, the company is providing a million of the vouchers.
The Director
of Workforce West Virginia says the
training is being offered at four levels, the first involving basic computer skills. Another level includes instruction in programs such PowerPoint and Excel with the third level providing certification in Office 2003 or Office 2007. The fourth level, offering training in Microsoft's IT Extended Professional Library, is geared to people already working in the field of information technology
Distribution
of the vouchers for free Microsoft training began Tuesday of this week and
Russell Fry says his office began receiving calls that day.
The vouchers
will be offered until August 23 or until the supply is
exhausted. Those who claim them must
begin the training within the 90-day time period and finish within a year.