HP Launches Institute Program to Increase IT Skills and Employability Worldwide

Bridging the IT skills gap with Certiport through the HP Accredited Technical Associate

 

BARCELONA – February 20, 2012 2012 (Certiport European Regional Summit) HP today announced the global launch of the HP Institute, an academic partnership program designed to address the worldwide IT skills gap. HP and Certiport are bringing practical experience and job-ready skills into an academic setting, packaged in a way to help students around the world obtain the IT skills and expertise that will make them successful in the workplace.


Globally, one in three employers reports experiencing difficulties filling positions due to lack of available talent, according to a ManpowerGroup survey of nearly 40,000 employers across 39 countries and territories last year.


"Our customers and partners report a growing shortage of IT professionals with the right skills, business insight, and practical end-to-end IT experience to help them design and implement critical new business and technology solutions," said Susan Underhill, Vice President HP Global Certification and Learning. "HP Institute addresses the increasing need for job ready IT professionals by working with academia to create a continuous talent pool of graduates with the precise skills and experience businesses need most to help them succeed today and in the future."


The HP Institute is designed to be universally accessible for those kick-starting their careers in IT through local schools, colleges, universities, and apprenticeship agencies. Training includes significant hands-on experience that prepares students for the workplace, particularly focused on skills needed by small and mid-sized companies.


"Technology moves so rapidly it is hard for any organization to keep pace, and finding employees who can help is a challenge," said Mike Wheeler, Solutions Director, ProLinx. "The HP ATA is important because it allows us to find staff who really understand the technologies that businesses use now – and they come to us ready to work from day one. The program is not just about textbook learning; it actually puts that learning into practical application."


HP Institute provides academic institutions with a complete learning solution, including an industry recognized certification, full curriculum and practical hands-on experience through a remote lab solution. The HP Institute will provide an industry leading curriculum for the new HP Accredited Technical Associate (ATA) certifications across four key areas: Connected Devices (PC, Printing); Networks; Servers and Storage; and Cloud Solutions. HP Institute learning solutions were developed and will be marketed and distributed by Certiport, the world's leading provider of test delivery services for the workforce and academic markets, providing education and certification products in 152 countries and in 27 languages. Certiport delivers over 225,000 certification exams every month.


"Certiport has been pleased to work with HP on the design and development of the HP ATA program," said Ray Kelly, CEO, Certiport. "By offering ATA certification, academic institutions can differentiate and elevate their degree programs to potential employers by providing better-qualified graduates with the technology skills, expertise, and business insight needed to be relevant and productive from day one."

Students will benefit from the HP Institute as they focus on hands-on practical know-how, including remote labs experience, giving them access to the up to date equipment they will find in the workplace and helping them gain higher job and earning potential through industry-recognized certification.


"HP is recognized internationally, and we wanted to give our students skills they could carry with them anywhere in the world to get a job," said Nick Gaunt, Instructor, Oklahoma Central Technology Center. 


"Having computer skills is not enough anymore, we have to help students learn very specific product lines so they can hit the ground running from day one on the job instead of spending six months to a year training in the workforce to do the job they were hired to do."


By accessing the talent pool provided through HP Institute authorized institutions, businesses can gain continuous access to talent who has the precise skills and expertise that IT and business leaders need to achieve their business objectives. For more information or to participate in the program, visit www.certiport.com/hp. Visit http://youtu.be/NHpZk_4S6i8 to watch a video about the program. 


MeasureUp offers HP ATA practice tests: HP ATA - Designing and Deploying Connected Device Solutions, HP ATA - Designing and Deploying Network Solutions, HP ATA - Designing and Deploying Server and Storage Solutions, and HP ATA - Designing and Deploying Cloud Solutions.



About HP Institute

The HP Institute will provide an industry leading transferable curriculum for the new HP ATA qualifications across five key areas: Connected Devices (PC, Printing); Networks; Servers and Storage; and Cloud Computing.


As well as providing skills across the whole technology stack, the cloud module will provide cross-technology integration information and a foundation in business acumen for IT leaders.

The HP Institute focuses on hands-on practical know-how, including remote labs experience, giving students virtual access to the up-to-date equipment they will find in the workplace and removing the need for educational establishments to invest in new hardware.

 

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com.