Exchange Group » 2007

The Institute of IT Training makes it easy to source accredited training

- February 15, 2007

David @ 1:37 pm

Filed under - News

The Institute of IT Training (IITT) has selected the Enterprise Study Network system to provide a nationwide schedule of accredited training.

The new service provided via the Institute’s website enables training buyers to search a wide range of courses from its list of Accredited Training Providers in one place. “Many buyers use a variety of sources to search for training but often find the process time consuming and end up with no way to assure the quality of the supplier they eventually select,” outlines Colin Steed, CEO of the ITTT. “The new free course search and booking service offered via our website not only provides an easier way to source training, it also gives buyers the confidence of purchasing from only IITT accredited organisations.”

However, it is not only training buyers that benefit - “The ESN system that Enterprise Study have developed and host for us, enables our accredited training providers to easily upload their schedules and the IITT branded site provides an excellent shop window for them to market their courses,” continues Steed.

Henry Stewart, of Happy Computers, was an early adopter of Enterprise Study’s ESP system and remarked, “This is great news for the IITT and for Happy Computers - with no additional work our schedule, which is already on the ESN system, can be promoted to a wider audience.”

Many training providers currently upload their schedules to the system and those that do find it easy to use. “I have to use a variety of portals in my role at Xpertise, but this is by far the best and easiest to use,” commented Luke Weston, Managed Training Service Executive at Xpertise.

The ESN system is already being used by other major organisations to aggregate their training suppliers into a single ecommerce system and Richard Williams, Sales Director at Enterprise Study, sees the selection by the IITT of their hosted solution as a further key development - “The opportunity to support the Institute in providing this service for their membership provides another fantastic example of how our technology can benefit the training community,” commented Williams.

“The Institute is delighted to work with Enterprise Study to provide this service and we are confident that it will be a valuable tool for the training industry,” concludes Steed. “Source: Training Press Releases”

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Shortage of 615,000 IT network professionals predicted in Europe by 2008

David @ 1:34 pm

Filed under - News

The IT skills gap, a phenomenon of the 1990s, is on the increase again, exposing a significant shortfall of skills in advanced networking technologies.

A report by IDC and Cisco has demonstrated that the skills gap is very much alive with a shortage of 230,000 networking specialists today rising to 615,000 in 2008. This is quite frightening given the reliance that business and government places on the Internet.

In the late 90s, entry into IT careers was difficult and the skills gap was wide open between the haves and have-nots. Today, more people have a basic knowledge of PC hardware and software, yet networking technology remains an unknown for many. “Source: Training Press Releases”

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Shortage of 615,000 IT network professionals predicted in Europe by 2008

David @ 1:33 pm

Filed under - News

The IT skills gap, a phenomenon of the 1990s, is on the increase again, exposing a significant shortfall of skills in advanced networking technologies.

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Investing in training - retain key staff and improve the bottom line

David @ 1:27 pm

Filed under - News

A recent survey has found that up to 75% of IT workers are ready to quit their jobs while additional figures suggest that over half of all IT workers are actively on the lookout for a new job and are registered with an employment agency.

Exchange Group believes that investing in training IT staff can have a significant impact on staff retention and satisfaction. This in turn has a clear and measurable cost saving to organisations that identify and implement career progression training for their key staff.

On-the-job training plays a significant role in career development for IT professionals, partly due to the clearly defined pathways set by qualifications such as the Microsoft Professional set. With the UK currently struggling with over 160,000 vacancies in IT, the key to affordably filling the skills gap for many companies may lie in training key staff rather than bidding for suitably skilled IT workers in an undersupplied market.

Varied approaches are taken by IT training providers in an industry that is highly competitive, however typical course completion rates remain surprisingly low. Roy Sunley, Head of Corporate Training at Exchange Group believes that the challenge for the IT manager is finding real return on investment in IT training:

“To gain a true indication of value, the level of achievement must be weighed against the capital cost of the training itself, a cheap training offer may seem attractive but without adequate support, the relevant qualification may not be completed”

Recently audited by Baker Tilly, Learndirect and the Adult Learning Inspectorate, Exchange Group’s completion rates ran at over 92% - something they believe is un-rivalled in the IT training market. The key to maintaining such completion rates lies in the delivery of a true blended learning solution. Exchange Group is providing a convenient on-line training and classroom courseware blend, to give learners a flexible and supported environment for training.

Exchange Group’s IT Pro division has brought together a range of partner organisations to be able to offer clients a one stop shop with the best of breed solutions in one blended package. Working with such organisations as Microsoft, PPI Learning, Skillsoft and a national network of training centres, Exchange Group are confident that the offer is ground breaking. When combined with available government funding, the offer combines quality, completion rates and unbeatable value.

Paul Byrne of PPI Learning has expressed his enthusiasm about the new partnership:

“We are very pleased to have formed this partnership with Exchange Group. We firmly believe that we share the same values and vision and that this joint initiative for the IT professional will bring measurable benefits to both the learner and their employer.”

Editors notes

Exchange Group

For more information on Exchange Group phone David Aragon on 0800 917 5425 or visit www.exchangegroup.co.uk/itpro

Current offer
• Free online courseware with the booking of any classroom-based Microsoft course
• 20% off any online Microsoft course

Exchange Group
• Training 30,000 people a year
• One the UKs leading training providers
• 92% completion rates as audited externally by Baker Tilly, Learndirect and the Adult Learning inspectorate
• Investors in People accreditation
• Reed SME employer of the year
• Microsoft IT academy program member, in partnership with Microsoft Gold members
• British Computer Society Member
• Matrix Accredited
• Certification provided by City & Guilds

“Source: Training Press Releases”

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PPI Reports on Study - The Effect of Virtual Classroom Training on a Large Pharmaceutical Company

David @ 1:24 pm

Filed under - News

Custom Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) initiatives reduce helpdesk call volume by 74% at a large pharmaceutical company.

Productivity Point International (PPI), a leading provider of certified and custom training programs in the UK and US, today announced the results of custom training initiatives on reducing helpdesk call volume at a large pharmaceutical company. After replacing traditional classroom training with Virtual Instructor-led Training (VILT), a 74% reduction in helpdesk call volume was realised. As well, training costs per student were reduced by 70% and accessibility to training was expanded. Up to 100,000 students, in multiple locations across the world, were able to access the training.

Although the study continues to this day, there’s no doubt that a positive effect has been established. A spokesman for the company said, “When switching to new and lower cost training, there’s some apprehension about whether you’re doing the right thing. Believe me, there was a big sigh of relief when we saw the data prove the training was effective - that the overall quality had been enhanced. It was confirmation that we were doing the right thing for our employees and for our company.”

“We have delivered Virtual Instructor-led Training to thousands of customers, so we knew going in that it was the right solution. However, it’s always great to see our success - in real numbers - and show the positive effect we have on customers.” “Source: Training Press Releases”

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PPI Reports on Study - The Effect of Virtual Classroom Training on a Large Pharmaceutical Company

David @ 1:24 pm

Filed under - News

Custom Virtual Instructor-Led Training (VILT) initiatives reduce helpdesk call volume by 74% at a large pharmaceutical company.

Susannah Clarke, Managing Director for PPI UK said, “We have delivered Virtual Instructor-led Training to thousands of customers, so we knew going in that it was the right solution. However, it’s always great to see our success - in real numbers - and show the positive effect we have on customers.” “Source: Training Press Releases”

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Productivity Point Transforms BAA’s Health and Safety Training

David @ 1:22 pm

Filed under - News

By developing engaging custom eLearning courses, Productivity Point transforms the efficiency of BAA’s existing training program, resulting in cost and time savings, more accurate maintenance of training records and an increase in the number of those who successfully completed the training courses.

Productivity Point International, a leading provider of certified and custom training programs in the UK and US, recently developed and launched a custom eLearning training program for its client, BAA - the world’s leading airport company. The program called for an overhaul of their existing paper based, instructor-led training, however, because BAA Engineering had not used eLearning as a solution for any type of past training, the budget was tight. With a budget of under £30 per engineer, it was required that each module be custom built, ensuring that the content be realistic to the airport environment, appealing to a wide age range of engineers, interactive and SCORM compliant.

Using an innovative approach, Productivity Point was able to cut BAA’s budget, creating courses that were deliverable in 10-15 minutes - without the constraints of having to schedule each engineer for face-to-face training up to 3-months in advance or worrying about providing coverage for engineers who were attending that training.

“Productivity Point has produced a great package of courses that has caused a lot of interest around BAA,” said David Parnham, Engineering Training Manager for BAA. “The topics can be covered quickly and so can be fitted around jobs and shifts, and the addition of the humorous elements has got all the engineers talking about the eLearning - which is a big step in the right direction.”

“It is exciting to get such positive feedback from BAA’s engineering staff,” stated Susannah Clarke, Managing Director for Productivity Point International, UK. “To hear that they are enthusiastic about the new training and the fact that the courses are short and to the point, easy to use and highly interactive, is right in line with our design plan.” “Source: Training Press Releases”

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Productivity Point Reports: m-Learning - Just Another Training Industry Buzz Word?

David @ 1:14 pm

Filed under - News

Utilising the rapid increase in mobile phone development and its ability to display visually rich interactive learning content, Productivity Point is creating innovative m-learning (mobile learning) solutions that are convenient, captivating and portable.

Productivity Point International, a leading provider of certified and custom training programs in the UK and US, is transforming the training industry by creating innovative m-learning (mobile learning) courses that can be accessed on-the-go by almost anyone, anywhere. With 50 million mobile phones currently in use in the UK, the network infrastructure and technical skills to utilise m-learning are very much established and ready to go.

The rapid increase in mobile phone development means that even the most basic phones are capable of displaying visually rich interactive learning content. Wireless connectivity is increasing across the country with access points available in Airports, Hotels and even coffee shops. Add to this the investment in 3G by the mobile telecom industry, and it is now possible to see how m-learning has become more than a buzz word.

Productivity Point has seized the opportunities made available through this emerging technology and created m-learning programs for its clients. These programs have brought an increase in staff participation to its clients by delivering content in such an innovative way.

Take, for example, a major mobile network operator. Content could be pre-installed on customer phones so that store associates were able to learn in store during down time or, alternatively, demonstrate their product to customers. For an international construction company - an industry where the staff is working at various locations, sub-contractors come and go, and computers are not generally available - this alternative approach could be the most effective way of deploying their most important Health & Safety Legislation training.

Importantly, in both of these examples, the data is able to be transmitted to the company’s Learning Management System (LMS) via a Wireless Network for suitable PDAs or using SMS. “Source: Training Press Releases”

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Microsoft integrates CompTIA’s Security+ into new MCSA and MCSE security certifications

David @ 12:12 pm

Filed under - News, Microsoft, Security+, MCSE

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced today that its Security+ certification, launched December 2002, has been integrated into Microsoft’s new MCSA: Security and MCSE: Security certification specializations.These new Microsoft specializations will allow IT professionals to demonstrate deep, role-based skills around implementing security on the Windows 2000 platform and validate their ability to create a secure computing environment. Microsoft said that CompTIA Security+ supports the industry-wide objectives of these two new certifications. Candidates will have a choice between Security+ and the Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 exam to satisfy one of the specialization requirements for the MCSA: Security and MCSE: Security certifications.“Security+ is a certification for intermediate-level IT professionals,” said John Venator, CEO and president, CompTIA. “Everything about it is designed to build a strong foundation for carrying out the daily tasks of information security. Microsoft’s decision about Security+ is a milestone for this new certification. We anticipate many more such milestones and are proud today to be recognized so significantly by Microsoft.”CompTIA Security+ provides a global benchmark for identifying candidates who are prepared for more advanced training, certification, and additional responsibilities in security. CompTIA Security+ certifies that a candidate has mastered security job-task skills equivalent to a networking professional with two years practical experience with some emphasis on security.

“Microsoft participated with CompTIA to develop the Security+ certification because we recognize the need for broad, cross-platform security skills across the industry,” said Dan Truax, Director of Business and Product Strategy at Microsoft Training and Certification. “We’re excited about including it in our security certifications because we know that these skills have particular value to IT professionals when combined with platform-specific security skills. We’re also happy to announce that Security+ is now an elective for our existing MCSA and MCSE credentials - this means that all IT professionals have the opportunity to gain and validate these skills - not just security specialists.

“CompTIA certifications, such as Security+, are developed by leading experts from all sectors of the IT industry, and meet the highest standards of certification testing. The objectives are generated by an extensive job task analysis of actual professionals performing appropriate job roles. All questions undergo a multilevel review process that ensures they are accurate as well as psychometrically sound and test responses are validated through statistical analysis.”

Candidates who have already earned CompTIA Security+ have taken a significant step forward toward preparing themselves for the MCSA: Security and MCSE: Security certification. These professionals have validated job-tasks skills typically performed by those with at least two years on-the-job networking experience with some emphasis on security. They have demonstrated mastery of general security concepts, communications security, infrastructure security, basics of cryptography, and operational/organizational security.

Representatives from the United States government were founding organizations of the CompTIA committee, which guided development of the Security+ certification examination. Founding organizations from government included: the FBI, Secret Service, Cybersmuggling Center - U.S. Customs, National Institute of Standards Technology, and Argonne National Laboratory.

Founding organizations representing leading corporations and security associations included: Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, IBM/Tivoli Software, Novell, Motorola, Olympus Security Group, RSA Security, VeriSign, Entrust, Information Systems Security Association, and Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

Academic institutions and training and courseware providers on the committee included: Virginia Community College System - Institute of Excellence for Information Technology, Course Technology, Marcraft International, Sybex, Ascendant Learning, ElementK, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, Tech-Connect, and Intense School. Courseware companies are developing textbooks and study-based software. Those passing quality guidelines are referenced on the CompTIA website. Academic as well as commercial training organizations have developed curricula to prepare certification candidates for the Security+ examination. “Source: Training Press Releases”

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Certification numbers falling in UK; help from qualified experts throws a lifeline to students

David @ 12:10 pm

Filed under - News

Recent statistics show that IT certification exam success in the UK is falling to new lows. A current report suggests that approximately 50% of all exams taken end in failure with expensive and potentially disastrous consequences for students. “Source: Training Press Releases”

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