“Microsoft founder Bill Gates, on his first visit to the Gulf, signed an agreement with a Dubai-based charity on Sunday to launch a knowledge portal in the Arab world…”
Dubai — Microsoft Corporation and “The Dubai Cares” charity campaign yesterday joined forces in a landmark initiative to enable children in developing countries to enter the digital age by providing them with the latest technology in education.
“The Dubai Cares-Microsoft Digital initiative was announced during a special signing ceremony attended by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates.”
The joint digital initiative will provide children access to technology that will help develop the knowledge and skills necessary for the 21st century workplace for students, teachers and communities within the next five years.
The program is aimed at raising the level of computer literacy among school staff and parents in needy communities and help teachers foster a culture of innovation among students.
The initiative will result in a dramatic increase in the availability of quality education and demonstrate how technology can enhance learning and improve educational systems in the least developed parts of the world.
According to Mohammed Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Executive Office in Dubai Government: “Dubai Cares seeks to be a forerunner of knowledge, dispelling the darkness of ignorance by giving needy children in poor countries hope for their future and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty. Only through education can they assume their rightful position as positive contributors to society.”
“This partnership with Dubai Cares grows out of our belief that the public and private sectors must work together to foster economic growth,” said Bill Gates. “We look forward to working with Dubai Cares.”
“Microsoft will also soon partner with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation to launch the Arab Education and Research Network, a first-ever knowledge portal in the Arab world.”
Gates held talks with Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed al-Maktoum, and signed a deal with the charitable foundation that carries the ruler’s name to launch the Arab Education and Research Network portal.
Under an agreement signed between Gates and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Chairman of the Board of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, it has been agreed that Microsoft will provide state-of-the-art technology platform for collaborative research and knowledge creation in the Arab world.
The initiative aims to “serve as a gateway to world-class knowledge,” and includes the creation of a database of digital Arabic research to provide a backbone for the foundation’s work, Microsoft said.
Microsoft will build the critical communications capabilities required for effective collaboration. These will include the latest knowledge sharing solutions, which will help develop an Arab Research Database and an extensive e-library.
In the first phase, Microsoft will help establish Learning Resource Centers that serve as community based e-learning hubs for students, teachers and communities. The next phase will enable Dubai Cares and governments concerned to launch targeted PC campaigns that will ensure an effective learning environment with the relevant software, capacity development and educational curricula.
“Microsoft’s world leading communication platforms, online chat and discussion boards, newsletters, and sites for blogging and social networking will also form a core of the project.”
During the meeting in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed hoped Gates’ presence in the UAE would present an opportunity to exchange points of view and to identify means of co-operation as well as boost relations between Microsoft and the Abu Dhabi Government and the private sector.
The two sides reviewed the growth witnessed by the emirate under the leadership of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The country aims to achieve sustainable development and to consolidate the UAE’s and Abu Dhabi’s position through the employment of modern technology to help the government update its services.
“Microsoft’s contribution through various scientific, educational and training initiatives was praised by Sheikh Mohammed.”
Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of taking advantage of experiences of international companies through partnerships that will facilitate and accelerate wheel of socio-economic development in the country.
“Technology has touched millions of lives and played a significant role in fostering economic development across the region,” Gates said.
“Microsoft’s goal is to work in close partnership with governments and partner organizations to help them use technology to accelerate social and economic development.”
For his part, the Chairman of Microsoft appreciated the UAE government’s plan to establish a fertile business environment to attract and support the growing software and IT sector in the region.
Gates also welcomed the idea of entering into bilateral partnerships to boost the IT sector’s role in serving major developments in the UAE in a way that will entrench its distinguished standing at the global theatre.
“The UAE wise leadership’s vision springs out of its awareness of the vital importance of giving national human element a top priority in training, capacity building and acquisition of knowledge, information technology and modern technology so to be able to cope with global rapid changes,’’ Sheikh Mohammed affirmed.
Microsoft also announced a renewed five-year commitment to the Partners in Learning program, which aims to bring technology to those without computers, a training program in Qatar, and online, educational services in Oman.