Building the foundation for workforce success with Microsoft Office Specialist
By Caroline Campbell
Introduction
Located in Fukuoka, Japan, Yanagawa High School has an impressive 83-year legacy of blending tradition with innovative education. As a leader in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) education, the school enriches its curriculum with neuroscience and space studies. Additionally, they integrated Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification into academic programs—to pave the way for future employment and academic success.
Building a future-ready curriculum
In 2001, Yanagawa High School introduced Japan’s first official “Microsoft course” after being chosen by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for a next-generation IT utilisation project. This initiative enabled the school to transition all its computers to Windows systems and developed a specialised Microsoft Office course through its partnership with Microsoft Japan — the only one of its kind in Japan.
The MOS certification became a crucial element of this course, allowing students to showcase their proficiency in Microsoft Office and improve their employability. During the course, each student sets a goal to take the certification exam as they progress through the Excel, Word, and Powerpoint course content.
Teachers personalise certification exam timings based on students’ practice test results, accommodating to their varying understanding and proficiency levels. Although MOS certification is optional, most students take and pass the exam after completing relevant classes—with many advancing to expert-level certification through self-study.
Empowering students with MOS Certifications
The “Microsoft Course” transitioned into the Information Technology (IT) course due to growing demand for students to pursue further advanced IT education and career. Students in this course normally graduate with an average of 15 certifications, including MOS.
Moreover, the MOS certification program is now accessible to all students across the various academic tracks. As an official MOS testing centre, Yanagawa makes this certification convenient for students and encourages them to take exams on-campus.
Mr. Koji Yamada, Chief of Academic Affairs, emphasises:
“Our school has been a pioneer in ICT education among Japanese high schools. Establishing the IT course and incorporating programming education were driven by the desire to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for advanced IT education and careers,”
“While AI and programming education are now in the spotlight, we position MOS certification as the foundational learning step before these advanced studies. We plan to continue pursuing MOS certification to build a solid foundation and step up to more advanced areas of learning.”
Transformative outcomes and proven success
Yanagawa High School has dominated as Japan’s top MOS-certifying high school for 19 consecutive years since implementing MOS certification. They have also produced many top-ranking students in Certiport’s Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship, a global competition backed by Microsoft that showcases the best MOS students worldwide.
Benefits of MOS Certification include:
1. Boosted Career Prospects
Mr. Yuki Tajima, an alumnus of the program and current Information Technology Course teacher, notes that the MOS certification offers valuable skills in both university settings and professional environments, where proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is highly regarded by employers.
2. Tangible Results
Students graduate with a strong foundation of skills, allowing them to perform well in the workplace and higher education. They will stand out with their resumes filled with 10-20 professional certifications. Employers will view these achievements positively as tangible proof of dedication and effort.
3. College Credit
Vocational schools provide admission perks or partial tuition waivers for MOS-certified students, making MOS certification valuable for high schools to include it into their curriculums. Nearby universities also offer MOS preparation courses on top of regular classes, hence already certified Yanagawa students who enter university can allocate their money and free time for other pursuits.
Mr. Tajima, an alumnus of Yanagawa High School’s Microsoft course, said:
“I chose the Microsoft course because it allowed me to graduate with multiple qualifications and having a MOS certification helped me earn college credit,”
“Before graduating, I applied for jobs with general companies, and the MOS certifications were recognised by all the employers, which showcased how important earning these certifications are in the workplace.”
By integrating MOS certification as a foundational learning tool, Yanagawa High School ensures students graduate with the digital tools and skills needed to strive in today’s tech-driven workforce.