Microsoft opens IT Academy in Karnataka

GULBARGA: Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd has launched its first IT Academy in the state of Karnataka in Gulbarga.

The IT Academy, which will serve as a pivotal point for imparting IT training to teachers across the state, is a key deliverable of the MoU signed between Microsoft and the Government of Karnataka, for implementation of Microsoft's Partners-in-Learning program.

According to the press release, under the MoU with the government of Karnataka, Microsoft has agreed to set up three IT Academy Centers in the state at Gulbarga, Bangalore and Dharwad respectively for training over 20,000 teachers and 400,000 students (From class III to class XII) over a five-year period.

Karnataka chief minister Dharam Singh inaugurated the center. The facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art IT lab complete with latest hardware and software, a comprehensive IT curriculum and well-trained staff for effective delivery of IT training for school teachers, noted the press release.

Additionally the IT training courseware has been translated in Kannada for ensuring improved understanding of content by teachers.

Apart from setting up of the IT Academy Centers in the state, the MoU between Microsoft and the Government of Karnataka for Microsoft's Partners-in-Learning program entails creation of a localized IT curriculum for students, rolling-out of teacher and student scholarship programs and setting up of a teachers' portal.