09 March, 2014

UAE Ministry of Education signs strategic Memorandum of Understanding with Microsoft





Agreement to allow UAE educational leaders with latest editions of advanced technological tools



[UAE, March 9, 2014] - The UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft, the world’s leading producer of computer software, allowing the country’s educational leaders key access to the latest editions of advanced technological teaching tools. H.E. Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Minister of Education, said, “The ministry places strong attention to the development of strategic partnerships with leading institutions working in the field of educational technology. Our key aim is to create bridges with the world’s leading technologies—enabling our educational leaders straight access to modern educational management tools and advanced technologies.”

The MoU was signed by Minister Al Qatami and Mark East, General Manager for Education, Microsoft EMEA and Asia, during the last day of the 7th Annual Global Education Forum (GEF) and the Gulf Education Supplies and Solutions Exhibition (GESS). Also present at the signing were H.E. Marwah Al-Sawaleh, Assistant Undersecretary, MOE; H.E. Fawzia Hassan Gharib, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Operations, MOE; and representatives from both the MOE and Microsoft.

The agreement aims to enhance the capabilities and skills of the country’s education professionals—teachers, principals and administrators—providing them with the proper training on how to use the latest in teaching tool technologies, which also help raise the efficiency of the country’s education segment.

The initiatives and programs covering the MoU, which has been called ‘Education Development Transform Learning’ will cover key points like the Microsoft Innovative Schools Program, which is aimed at encouraging change in learning and developing the educational process based on education methods of the 21st century; the Microsoft Program for Educators, a program that has been developed to teach educators innovative ways of teaching; Microsoft Shape the Future program and Microsoft Office 365.

Microsoft has also revealed that as part of the agreement, they will also be releasing technical tools in Arabic language like the Microsoft Lab program ‘Kudo,’ which has been designed to help students explore and develop their own skills.
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