About UpSkill Program:

This program is designed to give participants a broad view of career opportunities in entry-level tech roles and the skills needed to succeed. This 4-week course covers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip participants with a solid foundation in business automation and technology administration, preparing participants for entry-level information technology administration roles. This is an outline of the key learning outcomes achieved through this program:

Week 1: Foundations and Introduction Learning Outcomes

Introduction to Microsoft Teams: Navigate and utilize Teams for communication and collaboration. 
Introduction to Microsoft Office 365 Administration: Understand the basic functionalities and administration settings of Office 365. Including setup of a new tenant, adding users, managing users, groups, password authentication, and self-service password reset.
Introduction to Windows Device Management: Basics of managing Windows devices in a corporate environment. 
Introduction to Device Troubleshooting: Identify common device and network issues and execute basic troubleshooting steps. 
How the Internet Works and DNS Problem Solving: Understand the basic architecture of the Internet and troubleshoot DNS issues. 
Introduction to Resilience Training: Understand and apply basic resilience techniques in personal and professional life. Along with understanding of how we learn and retain information and effective ways to learn how to learn
Soft Skills Training (Communication, Time Management): Develop effective communication and time management skills.

Week 2: Intermediate Technical Skills and Networking Learning Outcomes

Microsoft PowerApps: Create basic apps using PowerApps. 
Microsoft Power Automate: Automate tasks and workflows and learn how to create Microsoft Forms and trigger flows using Power Automate.
Microsoft SharePoint Administration: Manage and configure SharePoint sites. 
WordPress Administration: Install, configure, and manage a WordPress site. 
LinkedIn Account Setup and Networking: Create a professional LinkedIn profile and understand networking best practices.

Week 3: Creative Problem Solving and Digital Marketing Learning Outcomes

Introduction to ChatGPT for Problem Solving: Utilize ChatGPT to aid in research and problem-solving tasks. 
Stanford Design Thinking: Apply design thinking principles to solve complex problems. 
Rube Goldberg Projects: Foster creativity and problem-solving through complex tasks. 
Digital Marketing Skills: Understand and implement basic digital marketing strategies. 
Marketing Strategy Role Support: Understand the role of marketing strategy in business operations. 
Social Media Business Support Skills: Utilize social media platforms to support business objectives.

Week 4: Professional Development and Capstone Project Learning Outcomes

Resume Writing: Craft a professional and effective resume. 
Presentation Skills: Develop and deliver clear, compelling presentations and prepare for interview readiness.
Team Capstone Project Development:

Students work on a conceptual business applying the skills they have learned 
Synthesize course content into a practical, real-world project. 
Learn how to work effectively and communicate in a team.

Week 8: Post Work Experience Project: Capstone Project Presentation and Program Conclusion 

Students present their Individual Capstone Project:

Share their learning objectives experience through a PowerPoint presentation and Blog Article.
Demonstrate competency in all areas covered by the course.
Effectively communicate the value and impact they provided to the workforce experience partner.
Exhibit professional presentation skills and interview readiness.

Organizations can benefit greatly from the skills and enthusiasm of our graduate students through this 4-week work experience, where the classroom transitions into the workforce. This is an opportunity for students to apply their new Career and Technology skills in real-world projects, demonstrate their capacity, and positively impact businesses. By engaging with our workforce experience program, your organization will not only gain access to a pool of talented individuals but also contribute to their professional development.

If you have any ongoing or upcoming projects that align with the skills our graduates have acquired, we would appreciate the opportunity to discuss potential collaborations. We are confident that our students' dedication, knowledge, and problem-solving abilities will make a valuable contribution to your organization.

FAQ:

Q: What are the dates for the program?

A: Participants take part in a 4-week immersive instructor-led onsite learning experience beginning December 18, 2023 followed by a 4-week workforce experience beginning January 17 -February 12, 2024 where participants can demonstrate their entry level technology administrative skills for local businesses and nonprofits in the region. Program dates subject to change based on enrollment.

Q: What skills will the participants learn?

A: Microsoft Office 365 Administration, SharePoint Administration, PowerApps/Power Automate Administration, Social Media and Marketing Support. Participants will also gain soft skills learning about psychological safety, critical thinking and problem solving.

Q: How are businesses selected as a workforce experience partner?

A: Businesses are selected based on project alignment to skills, alignment with program dates, and number of partners needed based on student ratio.

Q: What projects can the participants work on at my business?

A: Projects assigned to participants must be technology-related and aligned to building additional capacity to support your business. Students are trained to support businesses using a number of Microsoft Office 365 Platform tools to support organizations Administratively. Projects that include Microsoft Office 365 Administration, SharePoint Administration, PowerApps/Power Automate Administration, Social Media and Marketing Support, and WordPress Administration (Or other no code web platform) would be suited for the workforce experience.

Q: What is the goal of the program?

A: The goal of the program is to help participants obtain entry level information technology roles. Employers seek to hire individuals in information technology which require effective communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Q: As a partner am I required to hire the participant after the workforce experience?

A: No. We hope that if you are satisfied with their performance and you have an open position, you would consider them.

Q: What is the cost to being a host workforce experience partner?

A: There is no cost to host a participant. Participants are paid a stipend as a part of the program scholarship.

Q: Do participants need any equipment to participate?

A: No equipment is required as we provide laptops to participants to use for the entire program.