Microsoft has partnered with GEMS Education to deploy a programme across all GEMS schools in the UAE that offers students full access to the latest Microsoft Office technologies, as well as digital means for learning.

GEMS Education will be the first private institution in the Middle East to roll out the Student Advantage programme across its schools. The programme is a global initiative by Microsoft that offers Office 365 ProPlus to students at no additional charge when institution desktops are already licensed for Office 2013 Professional Plus or Office 365.

“GEMS value-driven education is expressed through ‘Leading through Innovation’ and ‘Growing by Learning’,” said Gordon Stewart, senior project director for GEMS Education.

“We believe in giving our students the tools they need to prepare for life beyond the classroom, empowering them to decide on their own futures, and be the best that they can be. The Student Advantage programme is an excellent way to empower our students and educators alike to use technology to help achieve those goals. We are proud to partner with Microsoft to deploy this programme within our schools, and to encourage and stimulate their learning experiences beyond the classroom.”


With access to most used applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Access, Publisher, Outlook, Lync and InfoPath, the Office 365 Pro Plus for students allows them to run Office on up to five machines and Mobile devices across multiple platforms.

“Microsoft has made a long-term commitment to working with schools and educators in the UAE to expand the world of learning through technology,” said Ahmed Ameen Ashour, education lead at Microsoft Gulf.

“We are striving to support the development of the education system in the UAE, allowing students to enter into the world of digital learning leveraging the Cloud, mobile devices and digital applications. The main aim of the Student Advantage programme is to encourage and inspire students and educators alike, to learn and teach respectively, on a technologically global platform revolutionizing the education ecosystem.” – TradeArabia News Service