In today's knowledge-based economy, computer literacy has become a vital workplace skill, a skill that millions of people worldwide still lack. Microsoft Community Technology Skills is a global community based learning program to extend the IT skills and economic opportunities for young people and adults. Focusing on working through community technology learning centers to bring the benefits of information and communication technology to communities underserved by technology, CTSP supports projects that create opportunities that can transform communities, strengthen local economies and help people realize their potential. Through the program, Microsoft works with a variety of community-based nonprofit organizations that are focused on work force development and IT skills training. Many of these organizations are community technology centers (CTCs) or telecenters, and are funded and supported by local businesses and government programs. Many of these organizations leverage Microsoft’s funding to garner additional funding from other sources including businesses, foundations and governments. Key components of this program include: Cash Grants. Since 2003, the company has granted $15m in cash to 140 NGO partners covering 7000 CTLCs in all EU 27 countries. Software Donations. Since 2003, MS has donated software to the value of $33.6m to approximately 940 organizations in EU 27. Microsoft Curriculum (Digital Literacy and Unlimited Potential) is for scalable, sustainable reach to learners in non-commercial sectors. To date, DL is available in 7 European languages and UP in 9, both of which are broadly adapted in CTSP projects. As of 2007, the UP CTSP program has trained 400.000 individuals with a further aspirational reach of over 3.3 Million people in the next 3 years in EU27.

Policy Context

In an increasingly globalised world competition is getting fiercer. In Europe unskilled workers come under pressure, factories in traditional manufacturing are closing and the digital divide is marginalizing important groups of society. There is a growing split between people who are able to benefit from modern information and communication technologies (ICT) and those not having the access or the skills to use them at all. The lack of e-skills is also slowing down business growth in Europe and hurting economic competitiveness and social cohesion. Europe has made a policy commitment to answers to this problem and give people better access to the skills they need so that they can get and retain a job or move to a new one. Microsoft is committed to playing its part by enhancing the employability potential of today’s and tomorrow’s workforce in Europe. Microsoft boosts employability through the provision of technology, content, e-skills training and certification, internships and other support that people may need.

Description of target users and groups

The UP CTSP is intended to help young people who are new to the work force and people who are re-entering the work force (immigrant communities, senior citizens, disabled people and other groups). The program enables our local Community Affairs Managers to identify the best target group to implement the Community Technology Skills program with locally rooted partners.

Description of the way to implement the initiative

Through our country offices, we identifying community-based centers where IT skills training is a primary focus, where community members can share the learning experience and where the environment is open and accessible to the public. More specifically, eligible recipients include non profit and non-governmental organizations that hold charitable status in their country, school-based CTLCs, or government funded and operated CTLCs. The local Microsoft subsidiaries select grant recipients based on the overall UP CTSP criteria and through collaboration with area governments, businesses and non-profit organizations. As our local representatives in each region, these subs are best equipped to research the technology and skills-related needs facing each community and determine the most appropriate UP grant recipients. The grant giving process to organization is then centrally managed to allow consistency in the program. Using this management system Microsoft has, since 2003, given more than $255 million in cash, software and curriculum through Unlimited Potential. We have developed relationships with more than 600 non profit partners supporting 29,000 community technology centers (CTCs) around the world.

Technology solution

Through software grants, NGO's participating in the UP CTSP program are able to get the latest Microsoft technology. This allows them to incorporate latest technology in their education and train the learners on the latest versions of the software.

Main results, benefits and impacts

Impact – Bringing technology access and training to hundreds of thousands of people in EU27 countries for bridging the digital divide. The program not only bridges the divide but also focuses on helping people get employed, thereby bringing growth to the local economy and enhancing the quality of life. Value – It enables new avenues of social and economic opportunity for underserved people in the society Results - Since 2003, the CTSP program has provided IT skills to over 800,000 people in EU27 countries

Return on investment

Return on investment: Not applicable / Not available

Track record of sharing

In January 2006 Microsoft and other industry partners launched the European Alliance on Skills for Employability. The partners committed to working together across the Employability value chain to deliver skills, technology and training opportunities for: - Young unemployed especially from industries suffering from globalisation - People with disability - Older workers and the elderly The Alliance is active at local level in a growing number of European countries. Government agencies, local businesses and NGOs are all involved in a growing multi-stakeholder partnership effort. Microsoft and the Alliance committed to provide technology opportunities, content and training to 20 million people in Europe by 2010. So far, the results are encouraging. Over 6 million people have been trained or have been given access to IT technology, among them over 3 million students, the future generation of workers. We are also working closely with a newly formed network called TelecentresEurope, which involves many of our grantees, supporting their efforts to share best practices and exchange experiences to improve effectiveness and impact of e-inclusion projects. The UP CTS program operates in cooperation with local NGOs in each of the countries where Microsoft works in all EU27 countries. The learning and information from this initiative is disseminated through both our project partners and our subsidiaries., we have successfully managed to bring the UP CTS program across Europe. Each and every EU27 countries has currently one program in operation with at least one implementing partner. With clear guidelines and pro active engagement at subsidiary level, we have managed to create local partnerships with NGO’s that are both locally relevant and aligned with the overall program objectives

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 - We have learned that technology access alone was only one part of the equation. People needed the skills to integrate technology into their daily lives, which could lead to new opportunities. Technology can be a great equalizer, but without the knowledge of how to use that technology for economic or social empowerment, underserved communities will fall further behind. Lesson 2 - Through discussions and implementation of local partnership, we have come to realise that improving employability is essential to creating new jobs and economic growth. New skills, the ability to use IT in particular, are increasingly required in the job market. Lesson 3 - We have also learned that the challenge is bigger than the contribution that any company can make and that in order to have an impact, we need to work in partnerships with others. Scope: International