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New Zealand Schools Receive Digital Boost From New Agreement

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The renewed Ministry of Education Schools Agreement with Microsoft supports digital learning in Kiwi schools

New Zealand, 13 August, 2018 – The Ministry of Education has renewed its software technology agreement with Microsoft providing state and state-integrated schools in New Zealand free access to Microsoft’s standard suite of learning and collaboration tools.

The latest agreement, which takes effect immediately through to 31 December 2021, gives all students and school staff free access to standard Microsoft Office 365 including Home Use, with the addition of Minecraft Education Edition (EE) on their devices. Minecraft EE is an open-world game that allows students to design and build new projects in teams, promoting creativity, collaboration and problem-solving in a fun gaming environment. Furthermore, it promotes computational thinking and design skills through in-game programming.

“Our goal at Microsoft is to empower the students of today to create the world of tomorrow, and this agreement assists Kiwi students to have the right tools to get there. The agreement provides students and educators with the digital support to ensure equity of access to learning opportunities,” says Anne Taylor, Education Manager for Microsoft New Zealand.

Schools will retain access to Microsoft software such as Office 365 as before, as well as new tools such as ‘Intune for Education’ that support mobile computing and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programmes to allow ‘anywhere-anytime’ learning. These tools will include improved identity authentication capability to protect students’ and teachers’ privacy.

Ms Taylor says the agreement also supports schools to move to Cloud-based technology, providing all schools access to leading technology that is both easily manageable and affordable, and which keeps pace with change.

“This agreement is about ensuring that students, teachers, parents or caregivers are able to access digital resources whenever required and from any device. Whether it’s at school, or from the lounge at home, we want to help enable Kiwi students and their families access world leading software and make the most of digital learning.”

“This agreement reinforces Microsoft’s role as a technology partner for the Ministry and demonstrates our commitment to digital education.”

For more information on Microsoft’s activities in New Zealand, visit: https://news.microsoft.com/en-nz/

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For more information, contact:

Andrea Jutson on behalf of Microsoft NZ

Mobile: +64 21 0843 0782

Email: ajutson@acumen.co.nz

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.

NOTES:

Agreement Details:

The new agreement includes the following features for state and state-integrated schools:

  • Continued access to Microsoft software for NZ schools
  • Microsoft Office software for students’ and teachers’ own devices at no cost.
  • On-premise and cloud-based versions of standard Microsoft software, to support ‘anywhere-anytime’ learning.
  • New tools for managing mobile computing & BYOD programmes, including: mobile device management, and identity and access management services.
    • Continued unlimited licensing for Windows servers and networks for on-premise, remote and cloud hosted environments.