Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates (Center) and Netopia President George Tan (3rd from right) formalized their partnership for the Microsoft iCafe eLearning Portal Program. Joining them are: (l-r) Faycal Bouchlaghem (Microsoft General Manager, Emerging Markets & Development Group, Asia-Pacific Region), Michael Rawding (Vice President, Unlimited Potential Group), Tito Chavez (Vice President for Marketing and Sales), and Craig Mundle (Microsoft Chief Research & Strategy Officer)

Microsoft, Netopia team up for e-Learning

Microsoft Philippines and Netopia, the country’s largest chain of Internet cafes, have joined forces to make IT learning and certification more available and affordable for Filipinos. Dubbed “Angat Ka! sa Microsoft at Netopia,” the campaign aims to provide opportunities to improve technology skills amongst the youth and professionals. By completing the E-Learning program at Netopia Internet cafes, participants become certified online in core and advanced computer concepts.

In Bill Gates’ keynote address during the Government Leaders Forum-Asia held in May 2008 in Jakarta, Indonesia, he announced Microsoft’s new programs and partnerships, including its agreement with Netopia, that strengthen Microsoft’s commitment to and investment in delivering accessible technology and transforming education for citizens across the Asia Pacific region and around the world.

The Microsoft ICafe E-Learning Portal will be made available in all of Netopia’s 157 branches nationwide. The program is divided into 16 short courses which include knowledge and skills training in computer basics, the Internet, productivity programs, computer security, digital lifestyle and more detailed courses on the Microsoft Windows operating systems –Windows XP and Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office system.

Enrollees in the E-Learning portal can opt to go through the courses from the fundamentals progressing to the more advanced lessons or select the various learning styles and topics through the portal interactive and user-friendly interface. Each completed course will be saved in the enrollees’ online profile, which can be accessed with a Windows Live ID. All the courses can be accomplished in less than 12 hours, only at the cost of Netopia’s standard Internet surfing hourly rate.

“Technology enables people to reach their full potential – be it in personal or professional endeavors. Knowledge and skills in Microsoft technology are an added bonus in the work place, and that’s why we aim to provide training on our widely-used products that will be available, accessible and affordable to the customer,” said Michael Rawding, Vice President, Unlimited Potential Group, Microsoft Corporation. 

Through Microsoft Unlimited Potential, the company’s initiative to close the digital divide, products and programs are created that will help bring sustained social and economic opportunity for the five billion people who don’t have access to information and communication technology (ICT). 

“Through collaboration with industry and government partners, we aim to bring technology training closer to Filipinos, as close as I-Cafes in the neighborhood,” Rawding enthuses. “I-Cafes in the Philippines are very popular and we are happy to be partnering with Netopia, the leading Internet Café chain in the country in this new project, which we hope would help young Filipinos improve their computer skills for a better chance at getting good jobs.”  

George Tan, President of Digital Paradise, Inc.  (Netopia) shares: “Majority of our customers are college students and young professionals and it’s good that we have this program with Microsoft that we could offer to them, that is both educational and useful, especially when they start looking for jobs. Through our partnership with Microsoft, we are making computer literacy more accessible through our extensive network of Internet cafes all over the Philippines.”

Those who complete the courses have to take a Microsoft certification exam, which tests proficiency in computer basics and the various Microsoft productivity programs. The added credential of a Microsoft certificate will prove to be useful to students and professionals who want to increase opportunities of achieving personal and career goals. “Angat Ka! sa Microsoft at Netopia” will allow our customers to become knowledgeable in the latest Microsoft products and its various tools and functions that will help them become productive. Since it is web-based, program enrollees can take the courses, while surfing the web or chatting,” said Tan.  For more information on the online courses offered through “Angat Ka! sa Microsoft at Netopia”, visit your nearest Netopia Internet café.