Pearson highlights global student talent at Microsoft and Adobe certification events
Arthur Valentine shares insight from the MOS and ACP World Championships, where students from 43 countries demonstrate digital skills on an international stage.
Photo credit: Arthur Valentine
Students from across 43 countries recently competed at the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) World Championships, hosted by Certiport, a Pearson VUE business.
The events brought together 190 young competitors, aged 13 to 22, for an international skills competition involving timed tasks using Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud tools.
Arthur Valentine, President of Assessment and Qualifications at Pearson, shared a series of reflections from the competitions and related Global Partner Summit in multiple LinkedIn posts. He writes, “This is an extraordinary event—190 young competitors from 43 countries are showcasing their mastery in Microsoft and Adobe—each one vying for the coveted title of World Champion.”
Participants earned their place through national competitions and were tasked with completing certification challenges focused on speed, accuracy, and real-world application.
Microsoft and Adobe projects focus on social impact
In the MOS event, students were asked to develop Microsoft documents to support the mission of Limbitless Solutions, a nonprofit that designs 3D-printed bionic arms for children and adults. For the ACP competition, students created digital marketing materials for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and its World Series of Innovation, which invites young people to design solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Valentine says, “These certifications do more than validate skills—they spark careers, build confidence, and inspire lifelong learning. To show the power, we know students who have been offered jobs on their flight home.”
Valentine notes that today’s learners are thinking beyond short-term job readiness. In his words, “They get it—today’s career journeys are about more than landing a job. They’re about staying sharp, learning constantly, and being ready for whatever comes next.”
Reflecting on his interactions with students, including Team USA, he adds, “It’s amazing to meet these talented young people from around the world and our wonderful partners who support them. They and their fellow competitors are showing us what lifelong learning looks like in action. I can’t wait to see what future career opportunities they’ll pursue.”
