1st Microsoft BA tech degree launched in Puerto Rico
Casarin, general manager of Microsoft Puerto Rico (center), flanked by Columbia Central University officials discuss the new BA program.
Microsoft Puerto Rico and Columbia Central University in Caguas have entered into partnership to offer the first degree in Microsoft Technology in Puerto Rico that trains students to enter the workplace as Microsoft Certified Professionals.
The program, known as the Bachelor of Information Technology, Networks and Security also prepares students for five Microsoft certifications, while teaching them the skills and competencies needed to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, company and school officials said.
The initiative represents the first time that Microsoft strikes a partnership with a local university to offer a BA based on its technology, said Marco Casarin, general manager of Microsoft Puerto Rico.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Columbia Central University and create this academic program that comprises Microsoft certifications. It is an investment we’re making in the island’s education, reflecting our commitment to social and economic development,” he said.
“This offer reflects innovation by Microsoft and Columbia Central University, and also adds an important value to the learning process and student employability,” he said.
Jorge A. Negrón, president pro tempore of Columbia Central University, said the program “demonstrates our commitment to professional and academic development of the young people we serve, equipping them with the knowledge and Microsoft tools they need to succeed as professionals in technology.”
In this curriculum, students have the opportunity to interact with professionals and the information technology industry and put knowledge into practice in modern computer labs, he added.
Both executives stressed the importance of the new degree as a tool to keep human capital in Puerto Rico. A recent Microsoft study showed that the computer industry is one of the few growth areas in terms of job creation. However, there are not enough candidates to fill the jobs available.
