Ministry of Education and Microsoft renew Agreement Providing the Latest Software to New Zealand Schools

New Zealand schools can enrich student learning and ensure digital inclusion with access to the latest Microsoft software.

Wellington, New Zealand — April 17, 2007 — The Ministry of Education and Microsoft today announced the renewal of their partnership to provide Microsoft software to the country’s schools.

The new three-year agreement has been expanded to cover the increased number of computers in our schools and cover the latest Microsoft software such as Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007. Any school in New Zealand can participate, potentially reaching over 760,000 students and 50,000 teachers.

Microsoft New Zealand Managing Director Helen Robinson says the partnership equips schools with tools to improve students’ learning. “Initiatives like the Ministry of Education’s Laptops for Teachers programme have already boosted technology use in our education system in recent years. We want to ensure that our schools are not only using technology, but have access to the latest technology. This partnership ensures that students will leave school already familiar with technology used in the workplace, and teachers will have better tools to teach and collaborate with,” she says.

“In the knowledge economy, the ability to use technology is a form of literacy. New Zealanders need to treat technological competence as an essential life skill if we are to become a leading knowledge-based society.”

Ministry of Education spokesperson Murray Brown says the technology supplied by Microsoft supports the Ministry’s education strategies. “This agreement continues the long established relationship with Microsoft that has provided all New Zealand schools with quality software that has made a major contribution to the increased use of ICT in schools.”

The agreement makes Windows Vista, Microsoft’s latest operating system, available to participating schools. Windows Vista includes features that will make it easier for schools to manage individual students’ computer and internet use. Along with Internet Explorer 7, these can help improve computer security, protect children from inappropriate websites and make networks easier for schools to manage.

Collaboration technology is included to make it easier for teachers to share resources and students to share experiences over the internet. Microsoft Office Groove 2007 is a collaboration software program that helps people work together, even if they work for different schools or remotely, while licenses for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server can help schools connect to online learning environments hosted on the Microsoft Learning Gateway.

Through the new agreement, schools can also license the latest Microsoft server software. This enables students and teachers to work together on projects, greater interaction between schools and communities and teachers to share learning resources online. For example, SharePoint technology can be used to connect to online learning environments, to easily archive and find documents across an entire school and create a variety of interactive intranet and internet websites. Groove can be used by teachers in different schools to work together on documents with changes being automatically distributed over the internet.

Teachers will also be able to take laptops loaded with Microsoft software home with them, or install the licensed Microsoft products on their personal computers at home for school-related purposes. The agreement also includes Client Access Licenses which will allow state school PCs to access computer servers located at other state schools or Ministry offices without having to pay for additional licenses. This encourages schools to work with each other, and save money on technology as well as share resources.

Today’s announcement builds upon a larger partnership that Microsoft shares with the Ministry of Education through its Partners in Learning programme. This initiative supports the professional development of New Zealand teachers using information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance student learning. The programme includes the Microsoft Innovative Teachers’ Scholarships, a recently-launched web portal and recently sent six New Zealand teachers to the Microsoft Regional Innovative Teachers’ Conference in Cambodia in March.

The Microsoft products covered by the agreement include:

Windows Vista Business edition (upgrade)
Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007
Microsoft Student with Encarta Premium 2007
Microsoft SharePoint Designer 2007
Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional
Client Access Licenses for Windows Server, SharePoint Server, Exchange Server, Systems Management Server and SQL Server
During the three-year term, the subscription license allows participating schools to use these current versions, upgrade to newer versions as they become available, or use previous versions on older computers.

About Microsoft in Education

Microsoft is committed to imbuing the next generation of leaders and their educators with the skills and knowledge to contribute to our country and succeed. Microsoft's vision is the creation of a connected learning community to facilitate the effective integration of technology in education - an exciting opportunity that requires thoughtful blending of infrastructure, access, knowledge, and empowerment of students, educators, schools, and communities.

For over a decade, Microsoft has worked with communities, educators and young people to expand the world of learning through technology. To learn more about Microsoft's commitment to education, please visit www.microsoft.com/nz/education.

ENDS

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