The importance of leveraging technology to build employable skills for youth preparing them for a stronger future and career was the focus of a recently concluded annual Microsoft in Education Global Forum.

More than 500 innovative educators, school leaders, partners and government officials from nearly 40 countries across the Middle East, Africa and India took part in the event.

Microsoft announced the availability of Office 365 ProPlus to students, faculty and staff at no charge igniting some of the best cloud solutions available in education.

Anthony Salacity, vice president, Worldwide Education, Microsoft, said: “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.

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

Marwan Ahmad Al Sawaleh, Undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Education, said: “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 for taking steps to facilitate these groundbreaking changes.”

Microsoft technology is used in over 98 percent 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.

Eligible students will be able to sign up for Office 365 ProPlus and install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Access on up to 5 PCs or Macs and mobile devices including Android, iPad and Windows tablets. In addition, they will also have access to OneDrive and Office Online.

“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.

The Office 365 ProPlus benefit will enable students and teachers to install the latest version of Office at no additional cost through qualifying institutions.

Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus for Education is an enterprise-quality communication and collaboration platform available in the cloud, currently used by over 110 million students, faculty and staff worldwide.  

Microsoft Office has also proved valuable to students; a recent IDC study found Microsoft Office proficiency is among the top 20 skills required for high-growth/high-salary occupations.

Meanwhil,e Microsoft offers resources to train teachers on new technology, including the Microsoft Educator Network that reaches nearly one million educators worldwide and includes online professional development, how-to tutorials, and learning activities created by teachers for teachers.

The Microsoft IT Academy provides industry-leading technology skills to more than 8.5 million teachers and students in 130 countries to help bridge the technology skills gap.

In addition, Microsoft has helped educators around the world successfully incorporate technology into the classroom to enhance the learning experience for their students through programs such as Teaching With Technology.

Microsoft has a strategic partnership with the UAE Ministry of Education in which the Microsoft IT Academy (ITA) authorised testing centres for secondary schools have increased from 14 to 25 over the last three years.

The firm is also working with the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT) in Morocco to offer training to more than 40,000 students at the 100 Microsoft IT Academies across the country. - TradeArabia News Service