Microsoft and UNESCO Launch Education Initiatives

To support their common goals of promoting socioeconomic development round the world, Microsoft Corp. and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today announced a cooperation agreement that will help increase access to information and communication technologies (ICT) and ICT skills training in underserved communities.

"We recognise the importance of harnessing ICT to help improve sustainable livelihoods in underserved communities," Matsuura said.

"We are honoured to team with UNESCO on this important initiative," Gates said. "Our shared goal is to help remove barriers to digital inclusion and enable people around the world to realise the full potential of technology — through education and skills development programmes, community access, and the preservation of cultural and language diversity. "

With assistance from Microsoft, UNESCO will create resource materials supporting the development of curricula and training courses on the use of ICT for teachers and classrooms.

Youth technology and learning centres in the North African Arab states. Microsoft and UNESCO will establish a subregional technology centre that will provide North African youth with improved access to ICT and ICT skills development.

The facility will share resources and expertise with other centres throughout the region, with the ultimate aim of helping develop North Africa's future work force. The project will draw on resources and best practices from UNESCO's international information and data exchange network INFOYOUTH, and Microsoft's Unlimited Potential initiative.

Microsoft's alliance with UNESCO is an extension of the company's broader digital inclusion commitment to help individuals, communities and nations gain access to the technology, tools, skills and innovation they need to realise their full potential.