Global Knowledge EMEA Chief Architect appointed Technical
Reviewer for Microsoft Office Communications Server
4th December - UK, Global Knowledge, Europe’s leading
independent training provider, has received an acknowledgment of
its depth of expertise and experience in developing and delivering
high quality courses in Microsoft technologies with the appointment
of one of its top experts to conduct a technical review of course
content for the forthcoming release of Office Communications Server
2007 (OCS 2007).
Microsoft has asked Thomas Lee, Chief Architect at Global
Knowledge, to conduct the review to ensure that it is technically
accurate and will meet the requirements of Microsoft customers
looking to evaluate and adopt the Microsoft OCS 2007 technology.
One of the world’s leading experts in Microsoft technologies and
Lee has been Microsoft Most Valued Professional (MVP) for the last
twelve years. In addition to being an MVP for Security and
PowerShell, he was also recently named as an MVP for OCS 2007 – one
of the first to be appointed globally.
Global Knowledge has been closely involved in the Microsoft
Readiness Program for OCS 2007 and has been delivering in-depth
briefings on the new unified communications solution to major
systems integrators, telecos and other partners across Europe since
the beginning of this year. As well as being the largest Microsoft
Gold Certified Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS) in Europe,
Global Knowledge is also a leading training partner for both Cisco
Systems and Nortel. This makes it uniquely placed to offer in-depth
education on OCS 2007, which integrates closely with networking and
communications technologies from both these vendors.
Jeffrey Smithies, Microsoft Product Director EMEA at Global
Knowledge, states: “Thomas’ appointment as technical reviewer for
Microsoft OCS 2007 is a reflection of the high esteem in which
Global Knowledge is held within the Microsoft education community.
We have made a long-term commitment to being at the forefront of
Microsoft learning and will continue to invest in our own people
and in the development of content and courses to ensure that we can
deliver the highest standards within the Microsoft Official
Curriculum.”
Global Knowledge is also able to offer a unique set of
capabilities, notes Smithies. “Unified communications bring a
number of technologies together. Our expertise in other areas such
as infrastructure and security means that we are ideally positioned
to help Microsoft develop and refine its content for OCS 2007 and
to provide Microsoft partners and customers with the skills they
will need in order to maximize their investment in this exciting
new solution.”
Commenting on behalf of Microsoft Learning, Sharron Harris,
Group Product Manager, noted “Global Knowledge’s experience and
expertise in delivering technical training will ensure that we
provide courses that meet the high standards of knowledge transfer
and skills development that Microsoft Partners and customers
expect.”
As a result of its active participation in the OCS 2007
Readiness Program, Global Knowledge has a number of trainers who
already have a good understanding of the product and these
individuals will be given access the training on the fully approved
content as soon as it become available. Global Knowledge will
be amongst the first Microsoft CPLS to offer the new Microsoft
Official Curriculum (MOC) OCS 2007 courses which will be released
later this year and are already running some beta events across
Europe in co-operation with Microsoft. The courses are;
- 5177 – Implementing & Maintaining Instant Messaging
using Microsoft OCS 2007
- 5178 – Implementing & Maintaining Audio, Visual &
Web Conferencing using Microsoft OCS 2007
- 5179 – Implementing & Maintaining Telephony using
Microsoft OCS 2007
The three OCS 2007 courses will run over a total of five days –
one one-day course and two of two days duration. Global Knowledge
is expecting an enthusiastic response from customers when the
courses are made available. “OCS 2007 is a brand new addition to
the MOC and we’re expecting demand for courses to be very strong”,
says Smithies. “We’ll be making sure that fully geared up to and
ready to deliver the highest quality of education in this important
addition to Microsoft’s server product range as soon as
possible.”
As well as being Europe’s leading Microsoft Gold Certified
Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS), Global Knowledge is unique
in having two MVPs; Lee and Microsoft Business Development Manager,
Ilse Van Criekinge. Global Knowledge delivers a full schedule of
Microsoft courses in more than 12 countries across the continent
and also in the Middle East and Africa regions. It leads the way in
developing new content and courses both for official Microsoft
accreditation and professional IT skills development.
About Global Knowledge
Global Knowledge is Europe’s leading provider of learning services
for IT and management professionals. The company offers a broad
array of hands-on IT, project management, and professional skills
training featuring proprietary core and custom curriculum as well
as content from leading companies, including Cisco, Microsoft,
Nortel, Oracle, and Red Hat as well as generic networking,
security, VoIP and wireless courses. Our management curriculum
includes project management, professional skills, business
analysis, and ITIL training. Delivered in classrooms, at private
facilities, or over the Internet, Global Knowledge has helped many
blue-chip companies, organizations and government agencies leverage
learning to turn knowledge into productivity for employees,
customers, and channel partners. Founded in 1995, Global Knowledge
employs more than 1100 people worldwide and is headquartered in
Cary, N.C and EMEA headquarters in Wokingham, UK. The company is
owned by New York-based investment firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson,
and Stowe.
Learn more at www.globalknowledge.com
Media contacts:
Harminder Sangha
Global Knowledge EMEA
+44 (0) 118 9121839
Email: harminder.sangha@globalknowledge.net
Neville Street
Stella Six
Tel: +44 (0) 1743 240917
Mobile: 07967 717258
Email: nev@stellasix.com