We want to ensure that everyone has access to the same choices and opportunities to realise their full potential. Access to technology goes some way to equipping people with the skills that will benefit them in educational life and beyond. However, we appreciate that, while every school shares our vision of digital inclusion, they don’t always have the resources and funding to make it reality. That’s why Microsoft, in partnership with local government and education leaders, has launched the Partners in Learning Grants Programme. The Grants initiative provides ICT skills training and curriculum to teachers and students around the world and is backed by a five-year US$253m investment.

By applying resources such as products, services and people, locally, we aim to empower schools to help improve student achievement. By partnering with schools and government we aim to set a new high standard for digital inclusion for students and:

• Work with schools to prepare students for the digital workplace;
• Empower educators to raise the level of ICT literacy in their institutions;
• Support teachers and schools in developing innovative cultures.

Microsoft IT Academy for Teacher Training
These centres will train teachers to deliver the Partners in Learning curriculum modules. They will prepare teachers to train others in the use of ICT in the classroom, and provide curriculum to train teachers and students in ICT basics. The curriculum available is as follows:

• Peer Coaching
• Leading Change
• Foundation ICT Skills
• Introduction to Desktop Applications
• Introduction to Networking
• Introduction to Application Development
• Student Help Desk

Click on a curriculum section to read more.

Innovative Teachers
We are committed to supporting teachers and creating communities where they can learn and share ideas, inspiration, and information with one another. Additionally, we will be providing a network portal where teachers can post their own work and browse the work of others, benefiting from shared best practice in teaching and learning using ICT.

For more information visit: Innovative Teachers.

Education Support Centres (ESCs)
Education Support Centres (ESCs) are designed to enable educators to build an online community to share information and best practice. ESCs provide educational institutions with expert, affordable and effective round-the-clock technical advice on Microsoft technologies to ensure that users can maximise the potential of their existing IT investments.

Read the Education Support Centres FAQs.

Curriculum Sections

Peer Coaching
This course will develop skills for teachers in how they can build peer coaching programmes at the local school level or using online communities provided through the programme. The deliverables for the course will include online/CD ROM (free) courseware and self-paced workbooks (low-cost books). The course should include a personal assessment of skills (CD ROM and Web-based) that can be taken pre and post course.

Leading Change
This course will target educational leaders/stakeholders and provide them with an understanding of the change process required to best leverage ICT investment. The deliverables for the course will include online/CD ROM (free) courseware and self-paced workbooks (low-cost books). The course could include a school assessment (CD ROM and Web-based) that can be taken pre and post course.

Foundation ICT Skills
This will be a foundation ICT literacy course, to make non computer users comfortable with the basic use of the Microsoft Windows Desktop®, Microsoft Office and Browser. It will be skill-based and designed in such a way that it can be mapped against a national or state skills framework. The deliverables for the course will include online/CD ROM (free) courseware and self-paced workbook (low-cost book). The course should include a personal assessment of skills (CD ROM and Web-based) that can be taken pre and post course. The course should be mapped to the ICDL/ECDL and IC3 certifications.

Introduction to Desktop Applications
This offering is for teachers and secondary students. It covers all the core desktop technology skills and equips teachers to integrate the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint®, Access, and Outlook® across the curriculum. Other areas covered include creating digital information for effective communication and selecting the appropriate technology to create solutions and evaluate results. After teachers apply what they have learned in the classroom, students will be able to create and format documents, develop and organise presentations, create databases, and manage data, as well as manage schedules and communicate effectively using e-mail.

Introduction to Networking
This curriculum is for teachers and secondary students and equips educators and students alike with the skills and confidence to get the most out of the Internet and other collaborative ICT environments. After taking part in this training, teachers will be able to describe the workings of the Internet to students in easy-to-understand concepts and show how it can provide a link to personalised knowledge that will empower the students to be life-long learners. Teachers will be trained to equip students to use networking technologies to collaborate on projects, to understand how these networks affect our lives on a day to day basis, as well as how to create simple networks. Students will also explore the career paths that networking expertise can open up.

Introduction to Application Development
We want to create a help desk support community of students. The way to achieve this is to deliver a course that equips students with the relevant expertise and skills to support technology at school level or through online communities. Skills development will be supported by free online curriculum resources and CDs and low-cost, self-paced workbooks and aptitude will be assessed both online and using CDs.

Student Help Desk
We want to create a help desk support community of students. The way to achieve this is to deliver a course that equips students with the relevant expertise and skills to support technology at school level or through online communities. Skills development will be supported by free online curriculum resources and CDs and low-cost, self-paced workbooks and aptitude will be assessed both online and using CDs.

Education Support Centres FAQs

What is the ESC?
Education Support Centres (ESCs) are a partnership between Microsoft and universities throughout EMEA to provide the education sector with expert, affordable and effective frontline technical help and advice on Microsoft technologies. In addition to providing technical support, the ESC will also provide users with access to an online learning community, enabling them to share information and best practice.

What are the benefits of the ESC?

• Efficient and effective means of support;
• Community-based support so you can learn from your peers and keep in touch with ‘real’ technical issues within education;
• Access to technical resources with experience in a range of Microsoft products;
• Access to the best level of Microsoft support if required;

Why has Microsoft focused on the education sector?
Microsoft has taken vital experience from previous education support offerings (within EMEA and globally) and customer feedback, to develop what is considered the ‘best support solution’. We have concluded that a fully-supported community support centre is the preferred option.

What products are supported?
The ESC will focus on support for desktop products. Some advanced centres will offer support for server products. The list of products supported will continue to evolve in line with sector requirements.

Who runs the ESC?
The ESC is managed by a mixture of IT professionals and students.

IT professionals will contribute:

• Technical knowledge and experience;
• Knowledge of education sector;
• Customer service skills;
• Consistency;
• Business mindset;
• Professionalism;
• Experience in management (including Operational, HR and Finance);
• Experience in monitoring and reporting;

Students will deliver the following advantages:

• Resource flexibility;
• Up to date skills;
• Knowledge of education sector;
• Enthusiasm, willingness and, desire to gain technical experience and knowledge.

Who is able to use the service?
The service is available to the education sector only.

What if the ESC can’t solve my problem?
Each country’s ESC is backed up by the EMEA ESC network which will provide escalation support with the highest level of escalation for complex issues being Microsoft’s own technical support team.

How can I submit an incident?
ESC incidents may be submitted via the phone or Web. Web submissions are available around the clock although the incident is worked on during normal business hours.

What services are included?
The ESC provides incident resolution services and access to a community site on a subscription basis. The terms of the subscription vary in each country in accordance with local conditions.

How involved is Microsoft in the ESC?
All ESC's are established with the support of Microsoft in terms of training, tools, and operational guidance. Microsoft remains involved with the ESC to ensure the technical and service standards required of the ESC are being met.