Microsoft, Gujarat ink education MOU

As part of the agreement, Microsoft will invest in enabling educators in the state to connect with each other, increase access to technology and training for learners in classrooms and campuses and thereby enhance career opportunities. 

Speaking on the occasion, Karan Bajwa, Director, Public Sector, Microsoft India, said, “Today Gujarat is symbolic of the best in India. As it moves into its next stage of the development process and focuses on enhancing it’s the socio-economic index, we believe IT will play a key enabling role. A continued focus on education is imperative to help people achieve their potential. We are proud and excited to partner with the state of Gujarat in its efforts.”

A focal part of the agreement will involve building IT readiness in both pre-and in-service school teachers under Microsoft’s Partner’s in Learning. Partners in Learning is Microsoft’s global program that provides the education community with resources and training.

In India alone, more than 270,000 teachers have already been trained and empowered by it.  Microsoft will also set up an IT Academy at Ahmadabad equipped with the state of the art IT  systems and will focus on curriculum innovation and upgrading master trainers under this program.

The MoU also entails the adoption of IT curriculum developed by Microsoft for students of classes VI through X; as well as a Joint Certification for higher education students after completion of the MS Digital Literacy curriculum. This is expected to have the additional benefit of enhancing the employability skills of the youth.

Another important component of the agreement includes DreamSpark - a Microsoft program that offers thousands of dollars worth of free Microsoft software development tools to all higher education students. The state colleges will also be eligible to implement the Live@Edu program that makes sharing, collaborating and just staying connected easier for both the faculty and students.