LONDON, Jan. 08, 2004 -- HP (NYSE:HPQ) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced a collaboration to accelerate the adoption of e-learning solutions to improve teaching by educational establishments across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Under the agreement, the two companies will implement joint training and establish several specialist centres across the region to develop and demonstrate eLearning.
HP and Microsoft are teaming up to meet the growing demand for information technology (IT) based education solutions across the entire region. Recent figures from industry analyst firm Gartner show that the education sector is worth US $6.5 billion in Western Europe alone. The new e-learning programme follows other innovative education solutions encompassed by their long-running strategic alliance, the Frontline Partnership, including deployments in Sardinia and Northern Ireland.
The companies will combine their strengths and experience in the education market. Microsoft will provide the Learning Gateway solution framework, based on a wide range of software for the education sector, including Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003, Microsoft Class Server™, the Microsoft .NET framework, and Microsoft Consulting Services.
HP will bring extensive experience in providing fully integrated solutions, comprising desktops, servers, management software, consulting, integration and support services. Recognizing HP's comprehensive .NET commitment and capabilities, Microsoft has endorsed HP as a "worldwide prime integrator" for Microsoft .NET technologies. Together, HP and Microsoft will enable educational establishments to implement agile technology that will help them respond to their changing needs.
“This collaboration is also aimed at helping schools, colleges and Universities reduce cost and forge the future of education. Our partnership will provide a better learning experience to students from their first steps through to graduation,” said Felipe Grillet, director and practice principal, Government, Healthcare and Education, HP Services, EMEA. “The objective of our collaboration is to help teachers teach and students learn, regardless of their geography or age. Because of technology, teachers and lecturers will have access to superior resources and students in remote locations will receive the same high quality of specialist teaching as everyone else.”
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders. It is our responsibility to help build a connected learning community where software provides a catalyst for the effective use of information and communications technology for the best teaching and learning experience as well as connecting parents, teachers and students,” Mark East, senior director, Education Solutions Group of Microsoft Europe, Middle East and Africa said. “By working together, we will provide focus and dynamic solutions to meet the growing need for products that can be deployed easily and effectively in the education space.”
The collaboration includes a range of specific investments and initiatives including schools technology innovation centres, an EMEA-wide training programme, and e-learning portals for schools:
Schools Technology Innovation Centres
Several ‘Schools Technology Innovation Centres’ will be established across the region. The first will be in Sophia-Antipolis, France, with plans for additional sites in EMEA to be announced later. These centres will highlight new technologies and innovation to share best practices and knowledge between the two organisations. Through these centres, both companies can continue to provide e-learning technology utilising the very latest innovations. The centres will supply the ideal environment for any organisation wishing to develop or use HP and Microsoft technology.
EMEA-wide training programme
In April 2004 a joint training programme will be initiated for Microsoft and HP education teams to collectively share their knowledge from prior e-learning projects and joint successes. Also initially based out of HP’s .Net Solutions Centre in Sophia-Antipolis, France, this investment in training will enable both organisations to provide the entire education sector with better advice and faster, more efficient implementation of technology.
eLearning portal
Today’s announcement also coincides with the latest release of Microsoft’s eLearning portal, the Learning Gateway. The Learning Gateway is a secure portal providing a framework for blending e-Learning solutions under one fully managed environment. Microsoft and HP will create school portals that will sit at the core of e-learning throughout the region, facilitating information-sharing and greater collaboration between learners, teachers, and parents.
HP and Microsoft – Committed to advancing education technology
HP and Microsoft already have considerable experience in delivering innovative education solutions. The Regional Government of Sardinia in Italy, for example, is working with HP to create a dedicated intranet and multimedia courses using Microsoft’s Learning Gateway for 550 middle and secondary schools. The initiative will assist particularly in the integration of disabled students and provide highly skilled schooling to areas where specialist teaching and resources are unavailable or limited. The initiative, called Marte (Moduli di Apprendimento su Rete Tecno Educativa), will also include the installation of 8,000 workstations.
In addition, in Northern Ireland, Microsoft and HP are connecting the largest number of pupils, teachers and administrators in the world under a €107 million, ten-year initiative that will enable every child from primary school through university to have an Internet address and to access virtual classrooms. Called Classroom 2000, the programme will increase connectivity, access and standardisation of learning tools across every one of the country’s 350,000 teachers, pupils and administrators within its 1,200 schools, colleges and Universities.
Continuing the Frontline Partnership
For nearly two decades HP and Microsoft have been working together to define industry standards through joint development, testing and preparation of leading PC and server solutions. During this time, through its partnership with Microsoft, HP has participated in a variety of programs including Microsoft’s Joint Development Program (JDP), Rapid Development Program (RDP), and Corporate Preview Program. HP is also a Global Launch Partner and Microsoft’s only Worldwide Prime Integrator.
Over Microsoft
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is opgericht in 1975 en is marktleider op het gebied van software, diensten en Internet-technologie voor privé- en zakelijk computergebruik. Het bedrijf levert een brede reeks aan diensten en producten - waaronder softwareoplossingen voor snel en flexibel zakendoen. Deze zijn ontwikkeld om mensen en organisaties nu en in de toekomst meer mogelijkheden te bieden voor toegang tot de informatie die zij nodig hebben, ongeacht op welke plaats, op welk moment en met welk apparaat.
Over HP
HP is wereldwijd leverancier van technologische oplossingen voor consumenten, bedrijven en instellingen. Het HP aanbod omvat producten en diensten voor een totale IT infrastructuur, personal computing en imaging en printing oplossingen. HP behaalde wereldwijd over het boekjaar 2003 een omzet van $ 73,1 miljard. Meer informatie over HP is te vinden op http://www.hp.nl © 2003 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
08/2003
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