MS partners slam certification binge
Microsoft's aggressive plan to increase the number of its ATECs (Authorised Technical Education Centres) has been denounced by existing partners, claiming it has devalued the accreditation.
The software giant informed its ATECs last week it planned to increase the number beyond the current 38 - when the accreditation was launched there were just 13.
The vendor's partners claimed Microsoft's move has reduced the value of ATEC accreditation as a selling point among the training industry, forcing companies to move towards providing bespoke training.
Ian Turner, managing director of Tower Education, warned the relaxation of Microsoft accreditation would result in an increase in dubious training companies keen to cash in on ATEC status.
'There's not anything like the barriers there were and I believe those barriers will relax further. To gain ATEC status five years ago or even three years ago was almost impossible,' he said.
Turner said ATECs were moving towards offering tailored training to customers by investigating individual companies and their systems and designing the courses around their needs.
He said demand for tailored courseware contributed to the trend of distributors selling training arms, as exclusively revealed in PC Dealer last week.
CHS Electronics and Ingram Micro have both sold their training divisions (PC Dealer, 29 July).
Julia Jones, Ilion director of services, said: 'It's Microsoft's remit to close that skills gap. The idea is to come up with every way possible for people to gain certification. The more people who use their product, the more people who buy their product. Those who have been an ATEC for a while are getting worried that it's opening up and they fear for their businesses.'
Jones said although recognised vendor qualifications were still highly regarded, Ilion was offering more bespoke courses in response to market demand.
Gwyn Matthews, general manager of courseware specialist PDI, said the increase in ATECs would reduce the number of training models offered and give more opportunity to offer bespoke extras. PDI launched an internet training service on 3 August for corporates to construct their own courseware.
A Microsoft representative confirmed the vendor planned to increase its ATECs but said standards would not change, maintaining it was a drive to boost skills and increase product sold.