Microsoft pledges to empower educators

Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Wordwide Education, Microsoft Corporation.
Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Wordwide Education, Microsoft Corporation.

Software giant Microsoft has said it remains committed to improving learning outcomes through technology innovation across the Middle East.

The company announced this at the annual Microsoft in Education Global Forum, which is currently underway and is being held in the Middle East for the first time.

The event, which is being attended by over 500 delegates including educators, school leaders, partners and government officials from nearly 40 countries across the Middle East, Africa and India, has also seen Microsoft announce the availability of Office 365 ProPlus to students, faculty and staff at no charge.

“Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, and we are committed to helping them to achieve more throughout their lives. But they will not reach their full potential if the public and private sectors don’t work together to create opportunities that make a real impact toward improving youth employability and entrepreneurship, education, digital inclusion in order to stir creativity and innovation,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education, Microsoft.

“Our commitment to the youth in the MEA region underpins many of our regional programmes, such as YouthSpark, which have the goal of improving access to technology, boosting skills and igniting innovation.”

“In order for youth to overcome existing economic challenges and for countries to attain knowledge based economies, the overall mindset in the region needs to be changed to allow technology to be embraced fully as a catalyst for progress. Our economies have no future if the youth are not empowered with the right tools that can address current and future challenges. We appreciate Microsoft’s initiatives in taking steps to facilitate these groundbreaking changes,” said His Excellency Marwan Ahmad Al Sawaleh, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Education.

Microsoft said its technology is used in over 98% of schools worldwide. The company’s end-to-end education solutions solve educators’ most pressing challenges while improving learning outcomes for students around the world.

“We’re committed to making the technology needed for college and career readiness available to as many students as possible – an imperative in today’s market. Bringing the Office 365 ProPlus benefit to MEA helps to close the opportunity gap between those who have access to the skills and training they need to be successful, and those who do not,” added Salcito.

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