Microsoft Azure Academy for Women
UPDATE: the current edition of the Microsoft Azure Academy for Women is powered by Techionista and started on February 4, 2019.
Early April 2018, Microsoft The Netherlands launched the first Microsoft Azure Academy for Women. Twenty-four highly motivated women, passionate about data, with diverse backgrounds and eight different nationalities, started an 11-weeks pilot to be trained and certified in the Microsoft Professional Data Science program.
Investing in diverse experts on Azure for the future
Why a Microsoft Azure Academy for Women? Unfortunately, the number of women in IT is still low in The Netherlands. When working in IT, only a small group of women is working with innovative technologies like cloud, big data and artificial intelligence. The latest STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) research also shows that girls at schools and universities do not choose the STEM-subjects needed for careers in IT. If these trends continue, the number of women in IT will be even lower in the future. To grow diversity, inclusion ánd azure skills in the market, Microsoft started this pilot Microsoft Azure Academy for Women in collaboration with Techionista, DataChangers and the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Trained on the Microsoft learning platform
Almost two hundred (!) women responded to the invitation to enroll to this 11-weeks, full time, Data Science program. Techionista and Microsoft selected twenty-four women to join the pilot. The selection was focused on the motivation, passion and perseverance of the candidates. The background of the participants is very diverse, from web design, IT consultant and product manager, to a master degree in oceanography.
The full program also includes relevant soft skills (like self-insights, communication skills, personal leadership, networking) and a real-life business case. Candidates are working two days in class on Data Science and two days of self-study. Next to that, they have one day in class soft skills training and are they working on the business case. The Data Science program is delivered via trainers of DataChangers, and supported by Microsoft colleagues and the Microsoft Global Learning team. Our partner Techionista delivers the coaching and soft skills training. The real life business cases on “smart cleaning” and “mobility” are provided by the Johan Cruijff ArenA, who also sponsor the location and facilities.
Here you can find some testimonials of the participants.
A career in Data Science on Azure
Being a Microsoft certified Data Science Professional, most participants of the Azure Academy will look for a new opportunity in data science. Techionista will match the participants of this first edition with interested companies, potential employers, during a Job Fair on June 12th 2018 in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Techionista will charge a regular recruitment fee per hire.
The next Microsoft Azure Academy for Women will be powered by Techionista and starts on the 4th of February, 2019. We plan to make the Microsoft Azure Academy offerings available to a wider audience too and offer more tracks like the Artificial Intelligence and the Big Data program.
Are you interested in becoming a Microsoft Certified Data Science Professional, then contact us, or directly get in touch with Techionista!