University of Ulster is a university in Northern Ireland with a national and international reputation for excellence, innovation and regional engagement which makes a major contribution to the economic, social and cultural development of the country and plays a key role in attracting inward investment. The University’s core activities are teaching and learning, widening access to education, research and innovation and technology and knowledge transfer.
The university recently received the Prodigy Learning Centre of Excellence Award for delivering over 250 Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification exams in the past year. Prodigy Learning worked with the School of Computing and Mathematics to embed MTA certifications in a number of modules throughout their degree programmes.
MTA Networking Fundamentals and MTA Security Fundamentals certifications are included in second year modules on the Computing Science, Software Engineering and Computing Technologies degree programmes. The first year of these programmes includes MTA Database Administration Fundamentals. MTA Security Fundamentals is also offered as part of the first year Interactive Multimedia programme.
The university is a Microsoft IT Academy and uses the programme resources to support the delivery of the MTA certifications alongside their own laboratory exercises. MTA Practice Tests from MeasureUp complete the learning solution for students.
According to Dr. Kenneth Adamson (Reader in Computer Science): “It is very apparent that inclusion of these industry recognised certifications from Microsoft on a student’s CV gives them an edge on applications for local industrial placements and appointments. The practical emphasis of the examinations greatly enhances their overall employability.”
Based on this success, the University is planning to introduce MTA certification to other courses in the University which can benefit from these qualifications.
