Microsoft and Ohio’s Cuyahoga Country form partnership to bring technology to education

Kareem Anderson

In the Cuyahoga County of Cleveland, Ohio, residents will be taking part in computer training skill courses that leverage a new partnership that will utilize resources provided by Microsoft. On a site that covers news around the North East Ohio aptly titled Cleveland.com, a new posting highlights the new details of Cuyahoga County’s alliance with Microsoft that includes four different programs that make up the company’s CityNext initiative that it has been pushing across the world.

In particular, Cuyahoga residents will have the following at their disposals:

  • Microsoft’s Digital Literacy Curriculum – a “train the trainer” model on basic technology tools to help residents develop skills required for many entry-level jobs.  The county will partner with organizations such as the Cuyahoga County Public Library to identify and offer residents digital literacy training.
  • Microsoft BizSpark – a program that focuses on start-up organizations by providing tailor-made software and services. The county will partner with entrepreneurial incubators to deliver the program to 300 local start-ups.
  • Microsoft YouthSpark – an initiative that broadens access to science, technology, engineering and math opportunities for students. Hundreds of students will attend YouthSpark Live, where they will take on technology challenges through small-group work and learn more about technology-related careers. Microsoft currently offers YouthSpark events at its store in Beachwood Place.
  • MyCuyahoga Mobile App – an app that will soon launch that will allow residents and visitors to identify issues such as graffiti, trash, and the need for safety escorts, car lockout and jump-start services. Users within the downtown Cleveland area will be able to upload photos and immediately send service requests directly to the Downtown Cleveland Alliance.

Recently, Microsoft elevated its view of competition in the educational sector as being greater than a one-to-one battle between company solutions but rather including competition against social and economic shifts in education. Microsoft appears to be aiming at creating a top-to-bottom stack of solutions for helping teachers and educators guide students and citizens into a competitive employment market.