HEC, Microsoft launch ‘Strategic Education Alliance’ (Issue # 50)

STAFF REPORT ISLAMABAD: A well educated population is vital to ensure a successful future. To harness the power of education and Information Technology, Higher Education Commission of Pakistan has launched a countrywide education alliance with the Microsoft.

In essence, the education alliance between HEC and Microsoft will provide centralized IT services to the universities and degree awarding institutes across Pakistan while maintaining the highest standards in the use of Information and Communication Technology across the higher education sector in Pakistan. The alliance will consist of Faculty Connection, Microsoft Student Partner program, Imagine Cup, Technology Lab Integration, Students to Business interaction (S2B) portals and MSDN Academic Alliance. This will be achieved through the Architecture planning and deployment of Microsoft technology, on-going technical support to Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and proactive guidance for Service Improvement.

Commenting on this major development in the country’s higher education sector, Kamal Ahmed, Country General Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, said, “Microsoft believes that Information and Communications Technology (ICT), combined with education, provides the path to individuals, communities and nations to achieve their potential. The Education Alliance with HEC provides the framework for a comprehensive joint public/private implementation plan that supports Pakistan’s objective of achieving education excellence. It is aligned to the key strategic aims of transforming education, fostering local innovation and enabling jobs and opportunities.”

Discussing the merits of the alliance, Anwar Amjad, HEC’s Director IT, said, “This is a great opportunity for institutions of higher learning in Pakistan to gain access to a broad spectrum of technology and enable the country to move towards a knowledge-based economy, ultimately benefiting the country through socio- economic development.”

A key objective of the alliance 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 activities of Microsoft within the educational programs remain aligned to the long term.

http://www.technologytimes.pk/mag/2010/dec10/issue04/hec_microsoft_launch_strategic.php