Microsoft commit to add pragmatic value to Student
I blog about the kick start of Microsoft HK TechEd 2003 yesterday, and actually Microsoft HK Ltd publish a press release yesterday announcing a new program - Student Club.
As the principal program sponsor, Microsoft is also responsible for providing guidance and establishing a general framework for the programs and events at the clubs that are being initiated and run by the students themselves. There are opportunities for students to learn from industry professionals, Microsoft experts and their technical peers about the latest information on Microsoft tools as well as industry developments. Microsoft's support for student clubs is part of a worldwide initiative built on Microsoft's highly successful .NET Curriculum initiatives that foster education programs and academic innovation. [Source: here]
Microsoft have a couple of upcoming activities for this program:
- The Imagine Cup - an annual worldwide student competition covering different categories: programming algorithms, 3D graphics, artificial intelligence, and web applications. To help students prepare for the competition, Microsoft will conduct tech talks covering these categories as well as in how to use their developer tools.
- Installation Festivals - help educate students about the benefits they are receiving through MSDN Academic Alliance ("MSDN AA") while also providing a venue for them to install MSDN AA software on their machines. The events will combine tech talks and briefing about the Imagine Cup. MSDN AA is an Internet-based annual membership program that provides easy access to Microsoft software for technical departments in the areas of Computer Science, Engineering and Information Systems.
- Career Development Events - co-organized by Student Clubs, Hong Kong .NET User Group and other partner communities to allow students to interact more with industry professionals. Students will hear from speakers representing different careers in the computer industry and be able to map their interests, technical skills, and curriculum to what occupation they would like to pursue.
That's a great news for the students, as Microsoft push the student developers community here (FINALLY). If they launch this program 1 year earlier, then I can also join this club and other activities as well. (Don't ask me why, but there's NO academic evangelist in the local Microsoft office)
Anyway, my role changed and I will pay attention to this program. On behalf and representing the Hong Kong .NET User Group, I'll find ALL the ways to co-organize events/activities for the students now. (Being a fresh graduate, I 100% understand the situation and feeling of the students developers community currently :)