Support for Gifted Students in ICT
7 November 2011
Read by 1568 persons
Workshops for 1,000 teachers… New measures.
The new CEO of Microsoft, Samir Benmakhlouf, presented Microsoft Morocco's new vision. Newly appointed head of this firm's subsidiary, he rekindled his old passions, including new technologies. He emphasized the unifying role that ICT can play in supporting the country's development in a highly evolving political, economic, societal, and cultural context.
The vision of Microsoft Morocco, as described by its new leader, is based on four essential pillars: individual and corporate clients, education, e-government, and the development of the partner ecosystem; these are all aspects linked to Moroccan socio-economic progress, and for which Microsoft is committed to an innovative and proactive approach.
In education, Microsoft is committed to supporting the training of 50 to 100 gifted students in ICT from public universities, as part of the "Microsoft Student Partners" program. These students will then share their expertise by organizing workshops for 1,000 teachers who, in turn, will train 50,000 higher education students in the latest information technologies.
Aiming to stimulate the creativity of innovative students, the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition will also be strengthened, with the ambition of reaching 5,000 participating students, ten times more than in the 2011 edition, which allowed a Moroccan team to reach the international semi-finals in New York.
Regarding the partnership with the public sector, the challenge for Microsoft Morocco is to contribute even more effectively to one of the fundamental pillars of good governance, by offering e-government solutions adapted to the country's needs. Having risen from 140th (2008) to 126th position (2010) in the world in terms of "e-government development ranking," Morocco has significant potential for improving e-administration and e-governance services. "Lessons from my international experience lead me to believe that these projects are not solely the responsibility of the IT departments of administrations, but that they must be driven at the highest level by political decision-makers," comments Samir Benmakhlouf.
Lematin.ma
Published October 30, 2011.
Posted online November 7, 2011.
The new CEO of Microsoft, Samir Benmakhlouf, presented Microsoft Morocco's new vision. Newly appointed head of this firm's subsidiary, he rekindled his old passions, including new technologies. He emphasized the unifying role that ICT can play in supporting the country's development in a highly evolving political, economic, societal, and cultural context.
The vision of Microsoft Morocco, as described by its new leader, is based on four essential pillars: individual and corporate clients, education, e-government, and the development of the partner ecosystem; these are all aspects linked to Moroccan socio-economic progress, and for which Microsoft is committed to an innovative and proactive approach.
In education, Microsoft is committed to supporting the training of 50 to 100 gifted students in ICT from public universities, as part of the "Microsoft Student Partners" program. These students will then share their expertise by organizing workshops for 1,000 teachers who, in turn, will train 50,000 higher education students in the latest information technologies.
Aiming to stimulate the creativity of innovative students, the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition will also be strengthened, with the ambition of reaching 5,000 participating students, ten times more than in the 2011 edition, which allowed a Moroccan team to reach the international semi-finals in New York.
Regarding the partnership with the public sector, the challenge for Microsoft Morocco is to contribute even more effectively to one of the fundamental pillars of good governance, by offering e-government solutions adapted to the country's needs. Having risen from 140th (2008) to 126th position (2010) in the world in terms of "e-government development ranking," Morocco has significant potential for improving e-administration and e-governance services. "Lessons from my international experience lead me to believe that these projects are not solely the responsibility of the IT departments of administrations, but that they must be driven at the highest level by political decision-makers," comments Samir Benmakhlouf.
Lematin.ma
Published October 30, 2011.
Posted online November 7, 2011.
