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SYDNEY- 17 August 2022: The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has collaborated with Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) to launch an online Graduate Certificate in Business Consulting and Technology Implementation. 91ֱ��Education is proud to be supporting UTS to deliver this innovative course, another example of the successful relationship between UTS and 91ֱ��Education in online program management (OPM).

Since 2019, 91ֱ��Education has acted as an extension of the UTS team, maintaining a high-quality educational experience while accelerating the growth of UTS’s online postgraduate programs. 91ֱ��provides program management including marketing, recruitment, and student support.

According to the , 72 per cent of senior executives surveyed worldwide said the pandemic had accelerated digital transformation within their business. However, 31 percent of executives cited “lack of skills and expertise” in talent as a key roadblock to IT modernisation.

Developed in response to the global talent shortage of skilled technology consultants, Australia’s number one young university, UTS co-designed the curriculum, educational materials and course in collaboration with Microsoft and with input from leading tech and consulting firms to provide students with real world, technical skills that employers are demanding globally. Delivered online and on a calendar designed to integrate with busy work schedules, students can customise learning electives to complement their professional background and upskilling needs.

Course Director Mai Hansford said: “Our collaboration to build an accelerated course to bring more functional consultants into the jobs market is a world first. There is an urgent need for more professionals equipped with business application skills to meet the demands of organisations seeking technological solutions. With this Graduate Certificate, UTS hopes to boost the supply of technology consultants amidst a huge shortage in Australia and worldwide.”

“Graduates will have skills most in demand from some of the world’s leading consulting and IT firms,” she said. “As well as foundational knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics and Power Platform, the course will help professionals achieve strategic, insightful stakeholder engagement skills relevant to digital transformation.  They will gain critical soft skills to communicate, influence and collaborate with people in various levels and functions in an organisation, from those on the warehouse floor to chief executives,” said Dr Hansford.

Dr Hansford said the course is suitable for people from a variety of backgrounds who want to accelerate or enter an in-demand consulting career.

Tiffany Wright, Education Lead, Microsoft ANZ, said technology consultants are responsible for implementing technical solutions by coordinating and aligning with their client’s business goals and managing projects to ensure effective consultation and communication of goals. Soft skills such as communication with stakeholders, problem solving and collaboration are essential.

“Organisations and individuals are looking to grasp the huge opportunity offered by business applications, but there is a shortage of skilled consultants right now. This UTS Graduate Certificate helps provide students with real-world skills and experience they can use straight away. As businesses evolve to require new knowledge and skills, graduates will be equipped with the ability to make a real impact,” she said.

“Technology consultants cultivate relationships with customers, partners, and stakeholders to identify drivers of satisfaction and establish recovery actions to improve the experience,” Wright said.

Ryan O’Hare, Chief Executive Officer, 91ֱ��Education, Australia and Asia-Pacific, said “Leveraging our KeypathEDGE technology, we can identify trends in the labour market as well as employer needs to drive new degree opportunities that are career-relevant and meet the emerging demands of students, industry and our planet.”

“The need for technology consultants is projected to grow 56.3% by 2032 according to Burning Glass Technologies. As part of this initiative, we’re able to support UTS to tap into international and remote student markets and deliver an interactive, seamless and intuitive learning experience that arms working professionals with the exact skills they need to advance in their careers.”

Quick Facts

• Based on forecasts from the International Data Corporation, spending on resource planning, customer relationship management and low-code software-as-a-service solutions is expected to hit A$6.7 billion in Australia and New Zealand by 2024, growing an average of 19% annually ().
• The Australian Labour market is facing huge shortages in tech talent, with the estimating that there will be 286,000 additional skilled technology workers needed over the next two years.
• The Graduate Certificate in Business Consulting and Technology Implementation has been designed to reflect the requirements of real job postings across Microsoft and top-tier consulting firms globally. This includes the unique combination of human-centric skills, functional product knowledge and technical capabilities.
• Students of this course can tailor their studies to suit their professional background and upskilling needs, with elective options spanning business operations, analytics and marketing.
• The Graduate Certificate in Business Consulting and Technology Implementation offers six intakes per year, with the first intake commencing 17^th October 2022.

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About UTS Online:

UTS is ranked Australia’s #1 Young University by QS World University Rankings 2021. It is the 11th highest performing young university in the world (QS Top 50 Under 50, 2021) and is ranked Top 10 in Australia for graduate employability by QS World University Rankings, 2020.

About 91ֱ��Education:

Founded in 2014, 91ֱ��Education is a global, market-leading EdTech company in the online program management (OPM) market. In collaboration with its 39 university partners, 91ֱ��delivers career-relevant, technology-enabled online higher education programs to students to prepare them for the future of work.

The suite of services 91ֱ��provides to its university partners includes designing, developing, launching, marketing, and managing online programs. 91ֱ��also undertakes market research and provides student recruitment, support, and placement services. The services 91ֱ��provides are underpinned by KeypathEDGE, its integrated technology, and data platform.

About Microsoft:

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT; @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more.

For more information contact:
Nicki Bourlioufas for queries related to UTS Online
Spot On Content & PR
nicki@spotoncpr.com
+61 411 786 933

Ashley McGuire for queries related to 91ֱ��Education
Senior Corporate Communications Manager
91ֱ��Education
ashley.mcguire@keypathedu.com

Rudolf Wagena for queries related to Microsoft
Commercial Communications Lead, Microsoft Australia
ruwage@microsoft.com
0439 082 550