Morocco OFPPT Picks Microsoft Suite

Morocco’s Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT) has chosen the world’s largest software maker Microsoft Corp. ( MSFT - Analyst Report ) for deploying vocational education across 35 fields of study through its 327 training institutes across the African nation.

Morocco’s OFPPT opted for Microsoft Office 365 software to improve its education and vocational training offerings provided to students in the country. The OFPPT will create 100 new Microsoft IT Academies throughout the country. The partnership will benefit Morocco by improving the employability of its people. It will also leverage Microsoft’s strength in offering quality training and vocational exercises and at the same time help teachers and students to keep pace with the ever-evolving technology sector.

Microsoft’s Office 365 is a cloud-based, subscription-based software service. It was officially launched in 2011. The new Office comes with the traditional word processing, spreadsheets and email programs.

IT certifications are gaining importance in the job market, as certifications are considered a key factor for getting employed. Moreover, Microsoft itself can employ the certified students. Thus, Microsoft will have an ideal workforce for its local businesses.

Microsoft’s Office 365 is gaining traction in the market as it recently launched its online version focusing on touch devices. Further, it is being deployed in the stores of retailers such as J. C. Penney Company Inc. ( JCP - Analyst Report ) and U.K.-based retailer Tesco.

Currently, just like other PC makers, Microsoft is also battling the slump in the PC market caused by the sluggish economy. In addition, the popularity of smartphones and tablets from Apple ( AAPL - Analyst Report ) and Google ( GOOG - Analyst Report ) has been cannibalizing PC market sales, further deteriorating the scenario. Whether it can come out of the slump on the back of its new software and OS is a wait and see game.

Microsoft reported revenue, excluding deferrals, of $21.46 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, which was up 34.0% sequentially and 2.7% from last year, in line with our estimates. All except the Entertainment & Devices segment grew both sequentially and from the year-ago quarter. Entertainment & Devices were down year over year.

Microsoft has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).