Posted by Lauren WoodmanGeneral Manager of Government and Education Programs, Worldwide Public Sector
This week Microsoft is hosting the Education Leaders Forum in Warsaw, Poland in conjunction with the 2010 Imagine Cup World Finals. Great event – great to bring together education leaders to talk about the role that education plays in building economic competitiveness, and particularly interesting to do so against the backdrop of the Imagine Cup Finals where so many great examples of innovation and the new perspective that students can bring to the world are being celebrated.
While we are inspired by the student projects at Imagine Cup, we can use that inspiration to spark discussion on serious issues with education leaders from all over the world. Nurturing a competitive economy is a challenge that all governments face, and we believe that a combination of information communication technology (ICT) and targeted policy focus will create the best possible environment for education to thrive and improve a country’s economic competitiveness. This morning we all had a chance to hear from President of Microsoft International, Jean-Philippe Courtois about what he believes ICT can do to help people and organizations around the world reach their full potential. One thing that really resonated with me as I think of my work with schools and teachers all over the world as part of Microsoft Partners in Learning is the fact that, in 5 years, more than 90% of all jobs will require ICT skills of some kind. This means that ICT education cannot be just for the traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Design students any more, but for ALL students as they prepare for new careers. You can read a summary of Jean-Philippe’s comments and all of the keynotes from the event at www.ELF2010.org.
Creating the right environment in which innovation and economic growth can occur is challenging and requires that policymakers look broadly at business, research, and workforce development areas. Many times, these discussions are appropriately focused on how to train young people through university or vocational education for productive careers. This is why we are so excited to hear that both in Europe & North America, some of our Microsoft technical certifications are being accredited to count for college credit by HETAC in Ireland and ACE in the US & Canada, as well as the new global availability of some of our most popular stepping stones to these courses, the Microsoft Technology Associate program.
This is important work and cannot be overlooked. But we must also not forget the critically important role of primary and secondary education in laying the best foundation for future success. In my work, I have the privilege of working with teachers from around the world who recognize that their young students need more than just a solid foundation in reading, writing and arithmetic to be prepared for tomorrow. They need new skills, like critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to work collaboratively, for example, to be ready for both the workplace and university.
Posted by David Bowermaster Administrator, Microsoft on the Issues
For the past five years Corporate Counsel magazine has conducted an annual review to identify the country’s top in-house legal teams. This week, we were pleased to learn that Corporate Counsel has named Microsoft Legal and Corporate Affairs the Best Legal Department of 2010.
Corporate Counsel has published a lengthy story online that reviews many of the accomplishments and challenges overcome by Microsoft’s legal team in recent years, many of which will be familiar to frequent readers of this blog. The online content package includes a video interview with Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith, as well as commentary from Corporate Counsel Executive Editor Brian Zabcik on the magazine’s selection process and the editors’ reasons for naming Microsoft this year’s winner.
Folks in Redmond are feeling both honored and humbled by Corporate Counsel’s accolades and want to congratulate their fellow honorees in the legal departments at Discover Financial Services, Hewlett-Packard Company and The Williams Companies.
Posted by Peter Cullen Chief Privacy Strategist
Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce is holding a symposium in Washington, D.C. to examine the important nexus between privacy and innovation in the online world. The meeting, hosted by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, is part of the department’s recently announced comprehensive review of Information Privacy and Innovation in the Internet Economy.
I have been invited to participate on a panel at today’s event that will look at how U.S. and international privacy protections and enforcement are working in practice, and explore how the U.S. legal system can influence privacy protection in the private sector and abroad.
This review is coming at a critical juncture. Social media and mobile computing are pushing societal boundaries and expectations around privacy. At the same time, increasing flows and aggregation of data brought about by cloud computing, ambiguities in domestic privacy laws and fissures in the global regulatory framework are accelerating the need for updated online privacy protections. Each of these trends present challenges for organizations seeking to responsibly manage data across geographical boundaries while minimizing risk. Microsoft and our industry partners called on Congress to enact comprehensive federal privacy legislation four years ago, and the rapid pace of change in the Internet environment is making our call for baseline privacy protections even more urgent.
My comments today will focus on Microsoft’s fundamental belief that the right balance between innovation and privacy protection can indeed be achieved. To accomplish this goal, baseline privacy legislation needs to be flexible, applicable across sectors and technology neutral. It can build upon the current regulatory framework and should operate in tandem with elements of existing self-regulation, enforcement, privacy-enhancing technologies and sound business practices. Getting the balance right will also require close cooperation between industry, government, advocates and consumers. Today’s event is an important step in fostering that dialogue.