CANNING College is offering students the chance to become MOUSe ready.
The Tertiary Entrance Exam-focussed facility, is letting students study and sit exams for Microsoft Office User Specialist competencies.
College deputy principal services Wayne Axford said the MOUSe program was not well known in WA but popular overseas and in the eastern states.
Most students taking the course are considering overseas travel and want an internationally recognised qualification.
The MOUSe test is conducted online, with the candidate given a number of computer tasks to undertake. Students can download their results.
Mr Axford said college catered to students aged 16 years and over.
“We offer programs for the TEE, students studying year 10 and 11, and a range of short courses.”
The bulk of those 16-hour-long short courses are in computing, ranging from word processing and spreadsheets to programming and web design.
The courses are tied to industry standards.
Biggest demand has been in the multimedia and Internet areas.
The college’s adult orientation allows it more flexibility. It is not part of the TAFE system, run by the WA Department of Training, but runs similar hours and courses.
Mr Axford said the college’s main difference to TAFE came from its course booklets that are issued as part of the course.
“At TAFE you have to buy the booklet separately and its usually one off the shelf. Our course booklets are custom-written,” he said.
The short courses can be studied over two days or in two-hour blocks over eight weeks.
Students can study 10 units through the short courses to earn a Certificate in Applied Information Technology.
The certificate is a formal qualification, equivalent to studying a one-year diploma at TAFE.
However, it does not guarantee exemptions in the TAFE system.