New College Lanarkshire has teamed up with Microsoft to give students, businesses and local communities the "knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the digital economy".
A shared goals agreement between the two organisations, signed by the college's principal Professor Christopher Moore and Microsoft’s vice-president Anthony Salcito, will equip students with cutting-edge IT skills such as artificial intelligence (AI) and access to Microsoft experts.
Microsoft and the college will also work together to deliver free training in cloud computing to businesses across Scotland, and upskill people who have become unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially saving them hundreds of pounds.
Charlie Johnstone, the college's curriculum and quality leader for computing, film and TV, has also been asked to be one of only five Microsoft Learn for Educators Ambassadors in the world, giving him access to Microsoft experts and global resources.
Charlie told Lanarkshire Live : “The IT world is going through as fast an evolution as it ever has done. Instead of investing in hardware, organisations are now buying space in ‘the cloud’.
"There is massive demand for cloud computing skills and I am proud to say that NCL is at the forefront of this in the UK when it comes to providing our students with these skills. This agreement with Microsoft will help us enhance our reputation even further."
Earlier this year, NCL became the first in Scotland to offer the new Microsoft Learn for Educators institutional programme, which will see computing lecturers and students obtain industry-recognised Microsoft Certifications for a range of technologies.
The college is already working with Microsoft to upskill its lecturers, and around 100 computing students have already begun their training in Azure software packages .
College principal Professor Christopher Moore added: "It is vital we ensure our students have the talent and training to support these needs and fuel economic future growth.
"Through this agreement , we will make technology a core part of our curriculum, equipping our students with the advanced skills and industry-recognised certifications that will give them a competitive advantage as candidates for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Microsoft vice-president Anthony Salcito said the organisation were "proud to be collaborating with NCL".
