CS Holdings was recently enlisted by consulting engineering company Hatch Africa to provide MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) training for executive secretaries and other staff who form part of a professional services group within the company.
"Hatch is a global company with its headquarters based in Canada. Therefore, in selecting a training programme, we wanted to set a benchmark across our various offices around the world. MOUS was the obvious choice as the Microsoft Office software suite is the industry leader, and the course is Microsoft accredited. CS Holdings provided us with a flexible programme that takes into account the fact that staff selected for the training also have full-time jobs," says Jack Morris, Training Co-ordinator for Hatch Africa.
Government legislation and the formation of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) - which tracks the individual`s acquisition of skills through school, tertiary education and further learning - has led companies to take note of employee skill levels and to look at ways of providing training to increase those skills.
MOUS accredits end-users with international certification in a specific Microsoft application, or the entire Microsoft Office suite, which includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access. Courses are offered at Proficient, Expert and Master levels. Students who successfully complete all four courses are certified as MOUS Masters.
The advantage of MOUS is that it provides office support staff with complete knowledge about MS applications and increases productivity. "MOUS is an advanced training programme which enables employees to work more quickly and efficiently because they have a vastly improved understanding of their desktop. Having properly trained end-users significantly reduces technical support requirements and it also means that users are able to take full advantage of all the features offered by the applications. There is direct benefit for both the company and for the user who receives accreditation," notes Madelise Grobler, managing director of the education solutions division of CS Holdings.
Examinations are conducted online, through Nivo International, the Netherlands-based MOUS programme managers for Microsoft. Results are instant, and students have the option to rewrite immediately should they not pass first time round.
CS Holdings offers the most sophisticated MOUS training programme in the industry. Courseware includes textbooks, examination guides, and a CD-Rom which enables students to practice in their own time. Reports thus far indicate that Hatch Africa staff attending the course have benefited from group work, and from the post-training support that is offered to them via e-mail.
"Because our focus is on customer satisfaction, we have created a course that is outcomes-based and learner-centred, which implies that a great deal of input and effort is required from the participants. Perhaps one of the greatest advantages is the personal touch we provide, which is so seldom seen in the training environment," concludes Grobler.
For inquiries on MOUS, contact CS Holdings on (011) 802 2182
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