Microsoft Launches Live@Edu Educational Platform in Leading Lebanese Universities

Beirut, Lebanon. — March 3, 2010— . As part of Microsoft Lebanon quest to offer the latest technology to the local community, this week is launching the most innovative and leading educational platform for 2010 across large education institutions. This move comes as part of a series of launches that will follow in leading Lebanese educational institutions including AUST, USEK and Lebanese University in the coming few weeks. The launch is set to take place in the presence and under the supervision of Live@edu program Manager Miss Nadine Haddad.

The launch kicked-off at AUST Campus in collaboration with Dr. Aziz Barbar, the Chairperson of the department of Computer Science in AUST in the presence of over 100university students and teachers. A presentation was held giving live demonstrations on the services and features that Live@edu offers, highlighting how it can increase their day-to-day productivity and efficiency.

Live@edu is a dynamic educational platform that establishes a solid foundation for collaboration and communication between students, professors and the rest of the university community. Live@edu offers a number of software applications and services that go beyond simple email services, including calendar, file sharing, blogging, mobile communication, distance collaboration, and instant messaging.

“At Microsoft Lebanon we are always seeking innovative applications that elevate the educational sector and take it to the next level” explains Ms. Nadine Haddad “as it is very important for students to understand how technology will greatly increase their productivity and efficiency in their university lifeand apply it once they enter their professional careers.”

Dr. Aziz Barar highlighted the impact it has made within AUST campus… communication among faculty, staff, and students @ AUST became a smooth process. …creating a teamwork spirit among students.”

Live@edu has already been implemented in all public schools earlier last year in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Higher education and its success has prompted Microsoft to further initiative to include universities and other schools.

Mr. Ziad Eid, the IT Director of USEK university, explained “Universities have to continuously invest in the academic curriculum and provide students with better quality of education now and after they graduate” he continued “Thanks to the live@edu program, students can now keep their USEK e-mail accounts for life; communicate freely and securely with other peers; which will definitely strengthen their feeling of belonging to the USEK Community.”