Information and Communications Technology (ICT), combined with education, provides the path to individuals, communities and nations to achieve their potential. A well educated population is vital to ensure a successful future. To achieve these objectives, Higher Education Commission and Microsoft have entered into a Strategic Education Alliance in Pakistan.
In essence, the Strategic Education Alliance between HEC and Microsoft will provide centralized IT services to HEC approved universities across Pakistan while maintaining the highest standards in the use of Information Technology within the ambit of education in Pakistan.
This public/ private Strategic Education Alliance provides the framework for a comprehensive joint implementation plan that supports Pakistan’s objectives of achieving education excellence. It is aligned to the key strategic aims of Transforming Education, Fostering Local Innovation and Enabling Jobs and Opportunities, and contains a selection of mutually agreed programs and solutions that offer the tools and support to achieve the country’s overall vision pertaining to education.
A key objective of the Agreement is to establish the basis of a long term, on-going partnership that will also allow for regular review and measurement to ensure that all undertakings of Microsoft within the educational programs remain aligned to the long term.
Since it is always fruitful for the state sector and private enterprise to work together to combine expertise, knowledge, experience and resources to ensure successful and sustainable education transformation, Microsoft will help the HEC to attain its goals by transforming education, fostering local innovation and creating jobs and opportunities through this alliance.
This blends perfectly with the HEC’s stated objective of equipping university students and faculty with the latest technological access across Pakistan. The HEC is also committed to bridging the digital divide by bringing Pakistan at par with the developed nations of the world where technology enablement for the students is concerned.
Since a strong technology infrastructure serves to make communities more appealing to local, regional and global businesses and investors, deployment of technology access under the education alliance will help bolster Pakistan’s economic growth and global.
Main Features of the Program
Licenses, through School Agreement each university/ DAI will be provided with the desktops/ laptops licenses for Windows7, MS Office 2010, Forefront Client Security, SharePoint 2010, Exchange 2010, etc.
e-Academy License Management System, a software distribution portal for students, faculty and staff of universities/ institutes while providing access to masses for around 150 licensed Microsoft software applications. This portal provides easy to register and have access to the listed software to every individual for personal and home use.
Unified Communication, provides integration of email services with voice and video conferencing setup already in place at all universities for strong internal as well as external communication.
Faculty Connection, a community site to support technical faculty who are using Microsoft technology or are considering using it in the future. Microsoft provides Academic Resource Centre which includes customizable curriculums and valuable in-class programs, and Connection (Forums and Events) which creates a network of peers to share knowledge and find experts.
Course Lab Integration, offers universities training materials on “.NET Framework 3.5” and “SQL Server 2008” and trains One (01) faculty member per technology from each university.
Microsoft .Net Club, a community of up to 5 members who can initiate activities and programs inside the university.
Microsoft Students to Business Program, connects Microsoft partners with universities to enhance employability of students.
Microsoft Student Partner, an annual award recognizing students who demonstrate strong technical knowledge of Microsoft technologies and willingly to share that knowledge.
Imagine Cup, the world’s premiere student competition encourages young people to apply their imagination, their passion and their creativity to technology innovations.
MSDNAA, Free availability of All Microsoft products and contents to each university/ DAI for academic purpose.
Trainings, Customized scenario based hands-on training at Microsoft Certified Training Center for One (01) resource person from each university, and Two (02) faculty members as Master trainers for IT faculty for curriculum and classes program.
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