MICROSOFT CORPORATION 
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"Education represents the catalyst for unlocking human potential in
today's knowledge economy," said
Microsoft's holistic approach to positively impacting the future of education looks beyond classroom technology applications and, through the facilitation of public-private partnerships and working hand in hand with governments and other business stakeholders, attempts to transform education for the benefit of students and communities worldwide. Throughout this week of events, Microsoft will announce numerous investments to inspire innovation across three strategic initiatives that represent a long-term commitment to enabling opportunities through learning.
Enabling Local Innovation
Under the Partners in Learning program, a number of events will discuss the success of the global Innovative Schools pilot program with various audiences and apply the learnings toward future endeavors. Under the current initiative, Microsoft has been working with educators on the ground across a diverse cross-section of 12 local schools in 12 countries to pilot cutting- edge applications of technology and pioneer instructional innovations enabled by information and communication technology. More information on the Innovative Schools program can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/education/pil/ISc_home.aspx.
-- The Innovative Schools Briefing (Jan. 11) corralled leading global
policy-makers, administrators and school principals, who will gather to
discuss the latest findings from Microsoft's Innovative Schools. They
will identify replicable, cost-effective models of educational
excellence that can be scaled up, providing a blueprint for the
transformation of school systems worldwide.
-- At the Innovative Schools European Workshop (Jan. 12), Microsoft will
convene local and regional educational leaders from across Europe to
hear how the Innovative Schools program is applying the learnings
discussed at the overall briefing, and how they can be applied to the
new opportunities opening up for schools around the world to
participate in this groundbreaking initiative. More on this component
will be announced later this week.
-- The Innovative Schools Conference (Jan. 14-15) will gather officials
from the 12 schools currently participating in the pilot program to
swap notes, share best practices and map out their future vision for
technology-enhanced learning.
-- BETT (Jan. 14-17). Annually at BETT, the world's largest educational
technology event, participants showcase the latest ways to use
technology for teaching and learning.
- Microsoft will also be giving visitors to BETT an exclusive sneak
peek at Microsoft Surface. Surface is a leap forward in computing
technology - forget the mouse and keyboard, this is the first
interactive computing platform from Microsoft. Surface has the
potential to make a transformational leap in the way teachers educate
students because it provides a mix of physical and virtual worlds for
a rich interactive experience. There will be demonstrations of how
teachers can use Surface in a range of lessons across the curriculum,
and this will mark the first appearance of the technology at a public
event in the U.K.
- Here also, a number of Microsoft Innovative Schools from across the
U.K. will be available at the stand to discuss their learnings and
experiences of implementing new technology within their schools.
- Additional news will be shared on the opening day of the BETT show.
Transforming Education
-- Providing high-quality education is a worldwide concern. To further
bring education into the 21st century, enabling countries to remain
competitive and allowing underserved communities to develop, Microsoft
executives will take their place alongside international education
ministers, senior officials and policy advisors at the Learning and
Technology World Forum (Jan. 12-14). The event is hosted by the British
Educational Communications and Technology Agency, the U.K. government's
lead agency on supporting technology in education, on behalf of the
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department
for Children, Schools and Families.
- Additional news will be announced during the week as it relates to
the show.
Fostering Jobs and Opportunities
-- At the Education Leaders Briefing (Jan. 14), Microsoft will host
education ministers, senior officials and policy-makers for plenary
presentations and panel discussions to extend the opportunity for joint
dialogue and sharing about the challenges and success strategies needed
to achieve real and lasting change in education through delivering 21st
century learning for all students. In an event closed to press, this
will be done by exploring national projects that are transforming
education, supporting local innovation and creating new opportunities
from the U.K., Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
-- Additionally at BETT (Jan. 14-17), Microsoft U.K. will be announcing a
world first in collaborative learning networks with a major new
implementation of education services. It will also be launching its
Digital Literacy Curriculum for under 16-year-olds, a new qualification
accredited by the awarding body Oxford Cambridge and Royal Society of
Arts Examinations (OCR) to help improve digital skills for children and
to equip them for greater success in the workplace.
For More Information
Additional background on the events occurring this week, including case studies, executive biographies and other materials supporting Microsoft's goal of enabling access to high-quality educational experiences, is available at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre/EducationVPR/default.mspx.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
