Microsoft and the University of Technology Sydney have launched a new course that aims to train 1,200 technology consultants.

Students will learn how to implement Microsoft’s Dynamics suite of business applications. The Dynamics suite includes an application for storing customer data, as well as programs that companies use to manage other mission-critical processes like accounting, logistics and  manufacturing.

Dynamics, like most software products geared towards large companies, can be highly complicated to set up. Companies usually have to hire outside consultants with specialized skills to help them install the software on their IT infrastructure and customize it to their needs. 

Microsoft wants to ensure there are enough Dynamics-savvy consultants out there to meet customer demand. 

If there aren’t enough consultants, companies that buy Dynamics have to invest more time and money in finding people who can help them set up the software. Such a dynamic would increase the difficulty of adopting Dynamic, which in turn would make it harder for Microsoft to sell the software.

As a result, Microsoft has a strong incentive to ensure that there are enough consultants to provide a smooth customer experience for software buyers. That’s where the new Dynamics consulting course it’s launching with the University of Technology Sydney comes into the  picture. 

The course will be delivered in an online format designed to facilitate part-time study. A student learning on a part-time basis can complete the course in 8-10 months, the University of Technology Sydney estimates. 

The course’s flexible schedule allows students can work while they study, which is a deliberate choice on Microsoft’s part. The support for part-time learning will make the course accessible for existing consultants in Microsoft’s ecosystem who wish to add the Dynamics software suite to their resume.

The choice to partner with the University of Technology Sydney is a strategic one on Microsoft’s part. The university ranks first in Australia for computer science and engineering, as well as AI research.

If the Dynamics course proves popular with students and IT consultants show a willingness to hire graduates, expect Microsoft to launch additional courses focused on its other software products. Increasing the number of consultants in its ecosystem indirectly helps Microsoft become more competitive.

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