HEC, Microsoft enter strategic partnership

HEC joins hand with Microsoft to provide centralised IT services to Pakistani universities across country.

ISLAMABAD: Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Microsoft entered into a strategic alliance in Pakistan to provide centralised IT services to universities across Pakistan, according to a press release issued by HEC.

A key objective of the agreement is to establish the basis of a long-term partnership that will allow for regular review. It is aligned with the key strategic aims of transforming education, fostering local innovation and enabling jobs and opportunities. The alliance provides the framework for a comprehensive joint implementation plan that supports Pakistan’s educational objectives. The programme, to be extended to all HEC approved universities across the country, aims to equip students and faculty with the latest technological access. The HEC also hopes to bridge the digital divide by bringing Pakistan at par with the developed nations of the world. It is also hoped that a strong technological infrastructure will help bolster Pakistan’s economic growth.

Bill Gates, Chairperson Microsoft Corporation, in a message on the occasion said, “The strategic alliance represents our partnership with governments to implement such initiatives alongside a comprehensive set of innovative educational tools that will enable students to achieve their true potential.”

Dr Sohail Naqvi, Executive Director HEC said, “The commission has entered into this joint partnership with Microsoft to promote the use of Information Technology in Pakistan’s higher education sector through powerful software tools and to improve the efficiency of the education system.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 23^rd, 2010.