EPAM helps its customers engineer the future with Microsoft Enterprise Skilling Initiative
A long-standing Microsoft customer and partner, EPAM Systems (EPAM) helps its clients engineer the future using Microsoft cloud solutions. The company, repeatedly awarded for its strong learning culture, nurtures employee cloud competencies through participation in the Enterprise Skilling Initiative (ESI). Available in a variety of formats, the program has already provided over 2,500 engineers with more than 5,500 Microsoft Cloud certifications. Equipped with future-oriented skills, EPAM employees can feel more empowered in their roles and better serve the increasing digital needs of their clients.
EPAM, a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, invests in its people and award-winning learning culture by offering mentoring programs and unlimited upskilling and development opportunities. “Our client works with us because we deliver results,” starts Dmitry Tikhomirov, Vice President, Head of Cloud Technology and Delivery, EMEA & APAC at EPAM. “And we are able to do that because we invest in our people — from technology and platforms to learning and education.”
A learning culture is deeply embedded in EPAM’s business strategy, providing an outlet for employees to grow and stay engaged. “We work to understand the business objectives of each department and map corporate learning solutions to those objectives,” reveals Irina Kureichyk, Director of Learning & Development at EPAM. “This way, we can offer our clients the most up-to-date, high-quality skills and services.” Seeing the demand for advanced digital and cloud technology expertise, EPAM decided to participate in Microsoft ESI, which provides hands-on interactive courses and certification in Microsoft Cloud technologies for Microsoft customers.
Cultivating an engaging learning environment
EPAM’s certification journey with ESI started in 2019 when the first 250 engineers signed up for training across Microsoft Cloud technologies (Azure, Security, Power Platform). Initially, on-site certification events and in-class experiences were planned, but the pandemic forced a rapid switch online. Yet, the transition occurred with no disruption. “We had a learning platform where we built a learning path, integrating courses from Microsoft,” explains Kureichyk.
“By combining our strengths with Microsoft, we can help our clients achieve their digital transformation goals, increase their technological agility and deliver game-changing digital experiences to their customers” said, Dmitry Tikhomirov: VP, Head of Cloud Technology and Delivery, EMEA & APAC, EPAM Systems
All certification paths are role-based but open to anyone meeting the course requirements. “We offer all learning formats provided by Microsoft, from self-paced courses and virtual classes to expert advice provided by colleagues. That flexibility makes learning easier to accommodate for our employees and keeps them motivated,” continues Kureichyk. To distinguish and engage learners, EPAM also uses gamification and badges.
Certified to make an impact
Commitment to skilling brings resiliency to EPAM. “In spite of global challenges, we continued to make skilling initiatives our top priority.” recalls Kureichyk.
To date, over 2,500 engineers across 14 countries in Central and Eastern Europe have obtained more than 5,500 certificates, the biggest Microsoft certification initiative in the region. For EPAM, this achievement confirms the company’s outstanding cloud expertise. For its employees, certificates provide a chance to elevate or recalibrate their career. “We’ve seen people move from engineering or development roles into UX roles or change their career path from testing to software development,” says Kureichyk. “This allows us to retain valuable talent.”
The drive for continuous learning is not purely employer-driven; EPAMers are hungry to build their skills to respond to the changing market demands. Apart from the Enterprise Skilling program, the company participates in Cloud Skills Challenge, Microsoft Training Days, and other joint learning initiatives. “The technology landscape is changing every three to four years, so we need to keep our skills current continuously,” comments Tikhomirov. “Through our combined efforts with Microsoft, we can help our clients on multiple fronts, from achieving digital transformation goals and increasing agility to delivering innovative solutions,” he says. “Equipped with cloud competencies, our engineers can continue to support our clients in navigating market shifts and disruption, providing them with strategic resiliency and the innovation to thrive.”
