Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office

This competition is open to any student between the ages of 13 and 22 as of June 15, 2012.

The Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office is conducted between September 2011 and June 2012 by Certiport Inc. and IC Central Pty Ltd. on behalf of Microsoft. There are regional, state, national and international events and prizes to be won.  The competition encourages students to demonstrate their skills using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2010 or 2007.

To qualify students achieve their Microsoft Office Specialist Certification in any of the above applications.   The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is a globally recognised credential validating the student’s skills in Microsoft applications, demonstrating job readiness, improving employability or preparedness for further study.

Additionally the certifications provide evidence of competency contributing to the provision of Certificates of Attainment for schools offering VET training under the ICA Information Technology and BSB Business Administration training packages.   For most participating teachers, achievement of MOS certification can contribute to requirements for Continuing Professional Development.

While all participants successfully passing the exam will achieve an MOS certification, students achieving the highest scores and fastest times have the chance of progressing to state, national and the international championships.  Prizes include cash grants, medallions, Certificates of Commendation, a range of exciting products from our sponsors and recognition and public acknowledgement for the individual, teacher, and school.

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Sponsored Entry Application Forms

We are pleased to announce that in consequence of the generosity of our sponsors we are able to offer a limited number of Sponsored Entries. Schools applying for sponsored entry can receive a contribution of up to $250 towards the selected entry fee meaning the school receives all the benefits and opportunities for less than half the cost.

Of course there are some terms and conditions.

  1. Schools accepting sponsored entry must upload all twenty (20) exams in the Starter Kit.
  2. Sponsored entry is not available to tertiary institutions
  3. Schools accepting sponsored entry agree to participate in program research that may include questionnaires, interviews, case studies, video profiles, focus groups or other feedback mechanisms.
  4. Sponsored entries are limited to the availability of sponsorship funding and will be provided on a first come first served basis.
  5. IC Central Pty Ltd will be the final arbiter for schools receiving sponsored entry.
  6. All other Terms and Conditions of the Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office apply.
  7. Applications for Sponsored Entry close November 30th 2011

Download the Application for Sponsored Entry by clicking here.

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Participating School: Trident High School – New Zealand

IC Central is pleased to announce that Trident High School has registered for the 2012 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office.

Having the Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications available to our students will deliver a qualification that is world renowned.  This qualification will enable them to apply for employment throughout the world and know that employers will recognise it instantly as a highly valuable and substantial award.  If offering the certification at our school for the first time enabled us to boast about having the 2011 NZ National Champion in Word 2010, then I have high hopes for the years to come!  Now that the rest of our students know it is possible for one of our own to win the competition I am confident the number of students registering for the exam this year will increase 100%.  I came into teaching to give my students the very best opportunities for success that I could and I feel these certifications go a long way to helping me achieve this goal.

Lynda Frisby
ICT HOD, Trident High, Whakatane, New Zealand

Trident High School is about opportunity. There is an expectation of students that they will take opportunities knowing that the benefits will accrue … it is not just about winning but more about developing and demonstrating aptitudes such as persistence, questioning, striving for accuracy and precision, problem solving, creativity and self-management. The Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications together with the Microsoft Office World Championship that our students have gone all-out to attain are perfect in helping to develop these aptitudes. The computer assessments are motivational in themselves  – in some ways like a computer game – and our students are reaping the benefits. They gain a portable qualification, currency in any job market. The fact that a Trident student Jonathan Jansen was the NZ champion was just the icing on the cake.

Peter Tootell
Principal

 

Trident High School challenges students to achieve excellence, develop a sense of self worth, and become motivated and responsible citizens. Trident High School has developed strong traditions and is recognized both locally and nationally for commitment to excellence and promoting personal best in academic, sporting and cultural achievement. Trident High School is committed to providing opportunities and helping every individual reach his or her potential.

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Lutz Ziob Speaks On Augmenting Academic Education With Certification

Lutz Ziob, General Manager at Microsoft Learning was recently interviewed at the 2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office, watch what he had to say:

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UK’s 15-year-old World Excel Champion Offered £100k Job

Rebecca Rickwood - 2011 Microsoft Excel World Champion

Rebecca Rickwood - 2011 Microsoft Excel World Champion

Rebecca Rickwood, a 15-year-old pupil at Sawtry Community College in Cambridgeshire has been offered a £100,000 job at Course Academy, “after she finishes school, of course!”

The promised job is based on her becoming World Champion in Microsoft Excel 2007 at a competition run by Certiport in San Diego, California.

She was entered into the finals after getting 100% — the top score in the UK — in the Microsoft Office Specialist Excel certification exam, which was run by Prodigy Learning.

In all, the five categories attracted more than 228,000 entries from 57 countries.

Nick Ferro, a director of the Bath-based training company Course Academy, said: “We have trainers who have been teaching Microsoft Excel since 1995 who would struggle to match her score, so naturally we feel [she] would be a great addition to our team.”

 

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World Champions Announced

Pictured from left to right: Clement Ng Chwin Chiat (Malaysia), Chen Xing (China), Mizuki Terao (Japan), Rebecca Rickwood (England), Liao Yu-Xuan (Taiwan)

Students from 29 Countries competed in Microsoft Word 2007, Microsoft Excel 2007, Microsoft Word 2010, Microsoft Excel 2010 and Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

The 2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office attracted more than 228,000 unique candidates from 57 countries who competed to demonstrate their mastery of Microsoft Office products. Seventy nine student finalists participated in the final round of competition.

The 2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office winners include:

  • Clement Ng Chwin Chiat, Malaysia, Microsoft Word 2010
  • Chen Xing, China, Microsoft Excel 2010
  • Mizuki Terao, Japan, Microsoft Word 2007
  • Rebecca Rickwood, England, Microsoft Excel 2007
  • Liao Yu-Xuan, Taiwan, Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

Next year, Certiport will host the 2012 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Preview and download quality photos of this year’s winners, along with images of the student awards ceremony at: www.flickr.com/photos/certiport.

Click here to view the press release on the champions.

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New Zealand Champion Announced

Jonathon Jansen

Jonathon Jansen, New Zealand Champion

Jonathan Jansen aces national championship with a perfect score and fastest time to represent New Zealand at Worldwide Championship in Microsoft Office.

BRISBANE – IC Central today named Trident High School student Jonathan Jansen National Champion in Microsoft Office – Word 2010. Jonathan will represent New Zealand at the Worldwide Championship on Microsoft Office to be held in San Diego, California later this month where he will compete against national champions from more than 70 countries.

“It’s a great feeling to win the competition. To achieve my Microsoft Office Specialist Certification was a thrill and now to represent New Zealand at the World Championships in San Diego is an amazing honour” said Jonathan.

ICT Teacher Lynda Frisby is delighted by the achievements of her students. “This is our first year participating in the competition. It is just amazing to think that our school has a National Champion. It is absolutely fantastic for Jonathan and a great experience for our other students as well.”

“The school is very proud of Jonathan’s achievement. It shows what can be accomplished by dedicated staff and determined effort” added Trident High Principal Peter Tootell.

The annual Microsoft Office competition is open to schools who offer their students the opportunity to study for the Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications in Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
“The competition this year has attracted more than 250,000 entries. National winners needed to achieve a perfect or near perfect score in considerably less than the time allowed” said Antony Lawes, CEO at IC Central.

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Australian Champion Announced

Ian Knight aces national championship with a perfect score and fastest time to win national prize in the Worldwide Championship in Microsoft Office.

BRISBANE – IC Central today named Adelaide University student Ian Knight a regional winner and National Champion in the 2011 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office. Ian, a second year student in IT won the opportunity to represent Australia at the Worldwide Championship on Microsoft Office to be held in San Diego, California later this month when national champions from more than 70 countries will compete for the coveted title of Microsoft Office World Champion.

“I honestly didn’t expect to win” said Ian “the university offers students and staff the chance get Microsoft Office Specialist certified and I wanted to add another qualification to my resume. It’s a real honour to win.” Ian had perfect or near perfect scores in the applications he entered and completed the tasks in about one third of the time allowed.

Now in its 10th year, the annual Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office is open to academic institutions offering students the opportunity to study for the Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Certification demonstrates a globally benchmarked standard of digital proficiency providing prospective employers with clear evidence of digital capability.

“This year the competition has attracted more than 250,000 entries from students in over 70 countries. Qualifying standards continue to rise. We congratulate Ian, Adelaide University and the other students who participated” said Antony Lawes, CEO at IC Central.

Students from Toowoomba Christian College (QLD), Dapto High School (NSW) and Ballajura Community College (WA) received high commendations.

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