Microsoft Business Application Developer Certificate

In collaboration with Microsoft and W5 LIFE, Lasell University is excited to launch a Microsoft Business Application Developer Certificate program. The program is designed to prepare participants to become Microsoft Certified and to jump start a career path as a business application developer. It is a 20-week professional hybrid program comprised of 4 courses. Microsoft Power Platform makes it easy to develop mobile and web apps even if the learner has no technical or development experience. The learner will create Power Apps, connect data with Microsoft Dataverse, automate a process with Power Automate, build a chatbot with Power Virtual Agents, and receive an introduction to the newest member of the Power Platform, Power Pages. As a value add, this certificate integrates job readiness skills through each course, increasing student success. 

Who is this certificate for?

This certificate is designed for:

• Post-secondary graduates
• Career changers
• Job seekers
• Students completing their university placement
• Students who live in Ireland and want to become low-code/no-code business application developers on the Microsoft Platform.

Job Outlook is High

There is a shortage of skilled application developers today. In the next five years, it is estimated that 500M new apps will be built. That’s more than has been built in the last 40 years. Technical talent is scarce and nearly 86% of organizations struggle to find skilled developers to build applications. IDC predicts that the global shortage of developers will increase from around 1.4M today to 4M in 2025. Lasell University, Microsoft & W5 LIFE recognizes the opportunity to collaborate on developing and supporting a Microsoft Business Application Developer certificate on the Microsoft Power platform. Learners completing this certificate will be candidates for entry level positions with Microsoft partners, have the foundation to be low-code/no-code developers on other platforms, and fill a multitude of entry level roles in businesses.

Stackable Credential Model

This Microsoft Business Application Developer Certificate will be based on the stackable credential model that is made up of four courses and job readiness coaching modules. As the student completes each course, they will earn various credentials. 

Credentials Earned

Upon completion of the Microsoft Business Application Developer Certificate courses, students will receive the following credentials:

LASELL UNIVERSITY

• Business Application Developer Certificate (completion of 4 courses)
• Business Operations Fundamentals badge (completion of course 2)
• Project Management Fundamentals badge (completion of course 3)
• Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals badge (completion of course 1)
• Microsoft Business Applications Developer badge (completion of course 4)
• Job Readiness badge (completion of 4 courses)

MICROSOFT LEARN

• PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals trophy (completion of course 1)
• 20+ Microsoft badges and over 50K points

What is the cost?

The program cost is €4510/£4,000.

Program Format

The certificate is delivered in a flexible format blending online synchronous & in-person sessions with self-paced coursework. In person evening sessions will alternate between the W5 LIFE Center in Belfast and the Microsoft Dreamspace in Dublin. Students will alternate by joining synchronous online and in person according to their proximity to Belfast or Dublin.

Time Requirements

Students will spend about 12 to 15 hours of weekly class and project time.

Benefits 

• Employees & job candidates earn industry recognized credentials, Microsoft badges, and over 50K Microsoft points
• Convenient co-located format - students attend a weekly two-hour evening session either remotely or in person at the W5 LIFE Center in Belfast or the Microsoft Dreamspace in Dublin

Employers

• Opportunity to expand your organization's workforce pipeline
• Increase employee retention
• Students learn job readiness skills providing a jumpstart to a company's onboarding process

Students

• Learn skills that are in high employer demand to fill existing developer shortages
• Prepares students to be low-code/ no code developers and positioned to grow into management roles

There are two learning pathway badges, including two curated courses. Completing these pathways will result in the completion of Learning Pathway badges. The Business Application Development course is heavily project-focused and is the capstone course for the certificate. In-person classes will be once a week on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:00 PM.

COURSE 1: MICROSOFT POWER PLATFORM FUNDAMENTALS (PL900)

Dates: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 Ends: Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Lasell University Credits: 2.0

In this six-week course, students will learn to develop business applications that build businesses. The Microsoft Power Platform makes it easy to develop mobile and web apps even if learners have no technical or development experience. In this course, students will create simple Power Apps, connect data with Microsoft Dataverse, automate a process with Power Automate, build a chatbot with Power Virtual Agents and be introduced to the newest member of the Power Platform, Power Pages. 

This course will act as a bedrock of fundamental knowledge to prepare learners for the Microsoft Certification: Power Platform Fundamentals - PL900 certification exam. Students will also get hands-on experience developing apps and building a portfolio of work to present to potential employers.

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive the following credentials:

• Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals – PL900 Badge from Lasell University
• Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals – PL900 Trophy from Microsoft

This course will prepare learners for the following Microsoft certification:

• Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals – PL900 Certification: Taking the exam is optional for this course. Students will not receive this certification if they don’t pass this exam.
  • Microsoft Official Practice Test
  • Pearson VUE and Certiport exam testing centers

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe the business value of Microsoft Power Platform and identify the core components of Microsoft Power Platform and Agile Scrum ceremonies and why they are important
• Demonstrate the capabilities of Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and  Microsoft Teams for collaboration and business value of Power Virtual Agents.
• Deliver compelling oral presentations
• Apply Microsoft Power Platform low code development to real world simulations.

COURSE 2: BUSINESS OPERATIONS FUNDAMENTALS

Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 Ends: Tuesday, July 11, 2023

Lasell University Credit: 1.0

This four-week course introduces the business world and how business applications can bring value to each enterprise area. Entering a company can be confusing as many organizational roles, teams, and structures are responsible for various aspects of the business. Learners will work in teams and explore a business's primary objectives and functional areas: marketing, sales, finance and accounting, operations, management, and human resources. 

In this course, students will be immersed in a real-world connected learning environment through team presentations that explore business objectives and how business applications can deliver value for each functional area of the business. At the end of this course, each learner will create or update their resume and LinkedIn profile.

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive the following credentials:

• Business Operations Fundamentals Badge from Lasell University

Learning Outcomes:

• Describe how various departments of a business operate both independently yet work together.
• Demonstrate how to read an organizational chart and how the structure impacts individuals' behaviors and productivity, business applications can add value to each area of an enterprise problem-solving skills in a business context.
• Understand values, social responsibility, and ethics in a business setting and how enterprise departments function in real-world simulations
• Deliver oral presentations

COURSE 3: PROJECT MANAGEMENT FUNDAMENTALS

Date: Wednesday, July 26, 2023 Ends: Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Lasell University Credit: 1.0

As low-code development has enabled teams to accelerate business application development, more and more people are finding themselves managing projects – even if they are not traditional project managers. This course teaches learners how to plan and manage technical projects using Agile and hybrid approaches. Students will gain the skills and resources to start a project, put a project plan together, and run a successful Agile project on time, in scope, and on budget.

In this four-week course, learners will be immersed in a real-world connected learning environment and run a project from start to finish while building a portfolio of work to present to potential employers. This course will provide students with the baseline knowledge for the PMI Certified Associate Project Management Professional (CAPM).

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive the following credentials:

• Project Management Fundamentals Badge from Lasell University

This course will provide baseline knowledge for the following Project Management Institute certification:

• Certified Associate Project Management Professional (CAPM): After this course, you will require further studies to prepare for this certification.
  • PMI CAPM certification exam resources

Learning Outcomes:

• Define the foundations of project management 
• Demonstrate how to set up a project for success, map out a project for the planning phase, run a successful project on time, in scope, and on budget, and how to close a project.
• Describe the project lifecycle, history, approach, and philosophy of Agile project management
• Deliver compelling oral presentations
• Apply project management fundamentals to real world simulations

COURSE 4: MICROSOFT BUSINESS APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Ends: Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Lasell University Credits: 2.0

This six-week capstone experience serves as the culmination of the core courses in the Microsoft Business Application Developer Certificate. Students will draw upon your knowledge of business, project management and the Microsoft Power Platform to design, plan, build, and demo comprehensive business applications.

In this capstone experience, learners will be immersed in a real-world connected learning environment by defining a business challenge and designing a business application that solves the problem and creates value for the organization. The capstone project, supporting documents, and plans will be added to the student's portfolio to present to potential employers.

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will receive the following credentials:

• Microsoft Business Applications Development Badge

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify a business challenge and develop a business application that solves the challenge.
• Demonstrate how to build a project plan.
• Develop a budget and timeline.
• Design and build a business application on the Microsoft Power Platform.
• Apply business principles to the application.
• Prepare documentation and training materials.
• Demo the business application.

The core qualities that make a successful business application developers are an intense curiosity, the intrinsic drive to make things better for others, a want to improve how people do their work, an ability to embrace innovation and change, and a love of making and doing.

The Business Application Developer Certification is a great starting point for a learner starting a new career or career changer. As the learner gains experience and acquires new skills and specializations they can branch out into higher-paying careers.

To be eligible for the program, learners must fulfill the following requirements:

• At least 16 years of age
• Expected to have a minimum of grade D in 5 subjects in the Junior Certificate or equivalent exam
• Completion of the Computer Basics – Level 1 self-paced training

For candidates who don't have these qualifications, they may still apply if they:

• Complete an approved preparatory training course followed by an assessment interview
• Are over 18 years of age and have relevant work experience, in which case students will also be asked to do an assessment interview

Technology Requirements:

To be successful in this course you will need regular access to Windows or Mac computer and a stable internet connection. Be sure your Windows or Mac operating system is up-to-date and you are using the latest version of your browser: Microsoft Edge Links to an external site., Chrome Links to an external site., or Firefox Links to an external site. Using an unsupported browser or an outdated version will cause problems accessing online materials. While mobile devices are great for watching a video or reading content, we do not recommend relying on them as your primary method for taking this course. You will also need the following hardware & software:

·       Webcam and microphone so you can participate in regular virtual meetings

·       Microsoft Teams (provided by Lasell University)

·       Microsoft Office 365 (provided by Lasell University)

·       Microsoft Power Apps & Microsoft Power Automate (free through Microsoft)

Ready to Start? Apply Now. 

Complete the online application process by April 10, 2023.

Upload the following credentials to the application portal:

• Two letters of reference from supervisors, teachers, or colleagues in a leadership role
• Resume
• One Page Personal Statement of Goals
• Official copy of education record and qualifications

All applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview with the Program Director as part of the admission process.