Microsoft and Anna University signed a MoU today to launch the I-Spark program in the institution. The university is the first one in Tamil Nadu to join the unique I-Spark program which is aimed at driving innovation and entrepreneurship among students.
The program is an attempt to bridge the gap between industry needs and student readiness by accelerating adoption of technology which strengthens IT competencies among students and creates better employment opportunities. So far, 50,000 students in 25 colleges across 5 states have benefited from the program. The event at Anna University today was attended by Dr. P Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University; and S.Somasegar, Senior VP, Developer Division of Microsoft Corporation.
The I-Spark program comprises an 'Innovation Platform' - that acts as a 'hub for collaboration' amongst colleges, universities, government/quasi-government bodies, industry bodies and partners. It is a unique inclusive platform that is created to facilitate growth of the local software economy in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. P Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, said "In a highly competitive environment it is important for students to think out of the box and leverage technology optimally to develop path breaking solutions. We are focused on creating opportunities for students that encourage them to learn, experiment and innovate. Microsoft's I-Spark program is one such platform that will enable our students to achieve the highest levels of excellence."
Delighted at being present at his alma mater, S.Somasegar, Senior VP, Developer Division of Microsoft Corporation said, "It is exciting to see education institutes across India drive innovation amongst students. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders. I clearly see synergies between institutes like Anna University and Microsoft, where innovation is regarded as the most powerful driving force for everything we do. These are exciting times for India and the I-Spark program can play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of students, in empowering them to use the latest software and developer tools and transform their ideas into reality." Somasegar also mentioned that starting this year, Microsoft Corporation will be hiring students directly from India's premium colleges to work at its campus in Redmond, and Anna University would be one of the first universities where Microsoft would look to hire for its R&D facilities.
Microsoft supports aspiring entrepreneurs at every crucial stage of their lifecycles, through:
DreamSpark, a program which provides developer tools to students free of charge. Over 4 million students have already gained access to the latest Microsoft tools in India through this.
WebsiteSpark, a program that gives web designers and developers a jump-start by providing the tools and resources needed to build great websites, free of cost.
BizSpark, a program designed to accelerate the success of IT entrepreneurs through software support. So far, over 1300 Indian startups have been provided professional software at no charge.
BizSpark One, an invite only program, aimed at accelerating the growth of select high potential startups through a one-to-one relationship with Microsoft and a global community of advisors, investors, and peers.
BizSpark Startup Challenge 2011, a unique contest for start-ups in the field of product software to showcase their innovative business plans, receive feedback, and mentorship from top investors and Microsoft. The two winners were recently rewarded with a grant of USD 40,000 each.
The program is an attempt to bridge the gap between industry needs and student readiness by accelerating adoption of technology which strengthens IT competencies among students and creates better employment opportunities. So far, 50,000 students in 25 colleges across 5 states have benefited from the program. The event at Anna University today was attended by Dr. P Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University; and S.Somasegar, Senior VP, Developer Division of Microsoft Corporation.
The I-Spark program comprises an 'Innovation Platform' - that acts as a 'hub for collaboration' amongst colleges, universities, government/quasi-government bodies, industry bodies and partners. It is a unique inclusive platform that is created to facilitate growth of the local software economy in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. P Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University, said "In a highly competitive environment it is important for students to think out of the box and leverage technology optimally to develop path breaking solutions. We are focused on creating opportunities for students that encourage them to learn, experiment and innovate. Microsoft's I-Spark program is one such platform that will enable our students to achieve the highest levels of excellence."
Delighted at being present at his alma mater, S.Somasegar, Senior VP, Developer Division of Microsoft Corporation said, "It is exciting to see education institutes across India drive innovation amongst students. Today's students are tomorrow's leaders. I clearly see synergies between institutes like Anna University and Microsoft, where innovation is regarded as the most powerful driving force for everything we do. These are exciting times for India and the I-Spark program can play a pivotal role in enhancing the skills of students, in empowering them to use the latest software and developer tools and transform their ideas into reality." Somasegar also mentioned that starting this year, Microsoft Corporation will be hiring students directly from India's premium colleges to work at its campus in Redmond, and Anna University would be one of the first universities where Microsoft would look to hire for its R&D facilities.
Microsoft supports aspiring entrepreneurs at every crucial stage of their lifecycles, through:
DreamSpark, a program which provides developer tools to students free of charge. Over 4 million students have already gained access to the latest Microsoft tools in India through this.
WebsiteSpark, a program that gives web designers and developers a jump-start by providing the tools and resources needed to build great websites, free of cost.
BizSpark, a program designed to accelerate the success of IT entrepreneurs through software support. So far, over 1300 Indian startups have been provided professional software at no charge.
BizSpark One, an invite only program, aimed at accelerating the growth of select high potential startups through a one-to-one relationship with Microsoft and a global community of advisors, investors, and peers.
BizSpark Startup Challenge 2011, a unique contest for start-ups in the field of product software to showcase their innovative business plans, receive feedback, and mentorship from top investors and Microsoft. The two winners were recently rewarded with a grant of USD 40,000 each.
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