Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 22/02) - Local students, currently immersed in a Microsoft upgrading course, say the program is making life easier and costing the government and private sector employers less money since it came to Yellowknife four months ago.

The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineering program (MCSE) has been underway at the Academy of Learning since last November.

The current group of approximately 10 students, mostly information technology workers with the territorial government, have since spent a week every month cramming to ensure they are not being left behind in a the rapidly evolving world of data systems management.

"It's a good way to save the government some bucks, and promote the education of Northern people within the North," said student Derran Guinan, who is also manager of information technology for NWT Housing Corporation.

Although at $15,000 a pop for a full course load, providing the seven-month program in Yellowknife is a lot cheaper than the added travel costs that would be incurred by employers sending workers down south to take the course, agreed director for Yellowkife's Aurora College campus, Kathleen Purchase.

Last summer, Aurora College conducted a survey, which confirmed an overwhelming desire among government and business to establish a MCSE program in the NWT.

The college subsequently entered an agreement with the Academy of Learning to bring the program to Yellowknife.

The program's instructor, Gerry Clusiau, who comes from Montreal to teach the course, said upgrading is essential for any systems manager, because the technology is ever changing.

"The average life span of an operating system is three to five years," said Clusiau. "Who's to say in 2007 there won't be another course."

He added that while 99 per cent of successful graduates are guaranteed employment, the work load can be somewhat hectic.

"I tell students I hope you enjoy studying and reading, because you will be doing it the rest of your life."