Kakinada, November 13: Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University-Kakinada (JNTU-K) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft India Thursday for Microsoft Dream Spark Programme (MDSP).
University Registrar Dr V Ravindra and Microsoft official Kondepudi Phani exchanged the papers in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Prof Allam Appa Rao.
The MoU is a milestone in the history of the young university, which benefits about 2 lakh students of 220 colleges in Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts under the purview of JNTU-K. Microsoft would give free access to software developer and designer tools to all JNTU-K students in the `Eight-District Zone of Excellence’.
Dream Spark includes—-visual studio 2005/2008 professional edition, ex-pression studio-including web, blend, media and design, SQL server 2005 express, SQL server 2005 developer edition, windows server 2008 standard edition, XNA game stud]io 2.0 and 12- month trial academic subscription to the XNA creators club.
Speaking to mediapersons Appa Rao said that students would get access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools free of cost. To face the increasing aspirations, students need to be familiar with the most advanced tools and technologies available in the world to achieve their goals, he averred.
With the introduction of MDSP, students of JNTUK would have access to the latest IT tools and software which will give them the competitive edge and help them in preparing for future endeavours, he stated.
Under the agreement, students pursuing mathematics, science, technology, engineering and design courses would be offered free academic software licensing.
The teaching fraternity should prepare new lessons to students. Microsoft came forward to give software worth crores of rupees free of cost to students, he said adding that an agreement was inked on five issues creating a record in the history of the university.
Microsoft India official Phani Kondepudi said education was a catalyst that would contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country.
The company focused on empowering students-the future leaders of tomorrow with cutting-edge technology.
MDSP provides professional level tools to students with an aim to encourage them to explore the power of technology and to improve lives, solve problems and catalyse economic growth, he said. Registrar V Ravindra, Sweden University cultural co-ordinator Leena, directors Padma Raju, Appa Rao, GVR Prasad Raju, Esu Ratnam, Prabhakar Rao, Vijaya Kumar, Srinivas Kumar, K Satya Prasad and Santhi Prabha, Engineering College principal EV Prasad and Pharmacy wing advisor SVM Prasad were among those present.
–Agencies