Press Information
4th December 2007
Global Knowledge EMEA Chief Architect appointed Technical
Reviewer for Microsoft Office Communications Server
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 and Maintaining Instant
Messaging using Microsoft OCS 2007
- 5178 – Implementing and Maintaining Audio,
Visual & Web Conferencing using Microsoft OCS 2007
- 5179 – Implementing and 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