The FINANCIAL — IT specialists are being given the opportunity to get certified by Microsoft authorized courses in Tbilisi which are in complete accordance with European standards.
Microsoft awarded UGT, the leader of IT technologies in Georgia with authorized learning solutions competency. This is the first precedent of consumers receiving authorized certificates through the Georgian company.
“In many companies a crisis of qualified staff is the reason of discontinuing innovations. That’s why companies are growing so slowly. It’s not easy to find highly professional IT specialists,” said George Chirakadze, General Director of UGT.
According to Chirakadze, receiving the right of Microsoft certified learning courses has strategic meaning for UGT not only in terms of increasing client numbers and partners’ education, but for the constant development of the company’s collaborators as well.
UGT was established in 1997. Today the company is one of the leading system integrators and providers of solutions in the field of information and communication technology. UGT primarily concentrates on providing services to corporate clients and the government sector.
The core business of UGT is the implementation, deployment, and support of solutions that are based on information and communication technology products and services. UGT is also known for the provision of high quality computer equipment and accessories.
“From today those people interested in raising their qualifications in the learning centre of UGT, IT Knowledge, can study various programs,” George Maisuradze, Deputy of General Director of UGT, told The FINANCIAL.
“Authorization of this training centre is not aimed at UGT receiving financial benefits. This investment is for the support of Georgian IT specialists, raising their qualification at affordable prices,” Maisuradze told The FINANCIAL.
As Maisuradze stated, IT Knowledge has three parallel learning classes and they intend to train 150-200 specialists a year.
“We have partnership relations with the leading companies in different fields and they have the desire to have certified IT specialists. We will employ certified cadres at UGT,” Maisuradze said.
“IT specialists will get Microsoft authorized certification courses in Georgian; they will have consultations from Georgian instructors, certified by Microsoft and also receive Microsoft official learning materials and documentation,” said Zurab Munjishvili, Microsoft Regional Representative in Georgia.
In Munjishvili’s words, Microsoft is interested in implementing this program where there is a need of qualified staff, and where the corporation is represented.
“Before this partnership, Georgian IT specialists were qualified in Moscow and Ukraine, now they have the opportunity to raise their skills with Georgian professionals,” Munjishvili said. “There are computer learning courses everywhere in Georgia, but to raise qualifications according to a certified program is really difficult.”
According to Munjishvili, IT Knowledge is going to qualify 100 specialists this year. IT is a very popular profession worldwide but in Georgia entrants prefer other less beneficial professions.
“When I am looking at job vacancies on Georgian websites, there is always a lack of IT specialists and I think this is one of the reasons this training will be beneficial for all sides, both companies and the specialists themselves,” Munjishvili told The FINANCIAL.
After finishing trainings, participants will receive special literature from Microsoft, which will be very necessary for their future activities. As Microsoft representatives says, these books are sufficiently expensive.
“Because technology develops so quickly, IT specialists who are certified by Microsoft must train again after two years to learn again the innovations,” Munjishvili said.
As he informed The FINANCIAL, Microsoft has very ambitious plans in Georgia.
“We invested a sufficiently large amount of money in translating computer programs in to Georgian. The volume of investment is a commercial secret which we can’t reveal but we have realized the fundamental Microsoft principal, for its product to be available to every person,” declared Munjishvili.
Also Microsoft has representation expanding plans in Georgia.
“We have investment plans for government structures, we also have a great desire to invest in the Education sphere and have some programs for Higher Educational centres. We support distance learning,” said Munjishvili.
According to UGT representatives, leading companies have already ordered trainings for groups consisting of 20 specialists.
According to Marika Gokadze, representative of IT Knowledge, the cost of Microsoft certified 40 hour training will be GEL 700-900.
“There is also the Prometric testing centre at IT Knowledge. The certificate of Prometric, partner of Microsoft, will be GEL 100,” she added.
According to Gokadze, IT Knowledge offers customers various programs.
“It’s basically a cycle for a Microsoft certified engineer, including a 4+1 training. We have published a schedule of IT Knowledge courses for anyone interested in getting listed and starting trainings,” said Gokadze.
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