MICROSOFT TO COOPERATE WITH ARMENIAN UNIVERSITIES

Noyan Tapan
Apr 10 2007

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Microsoft company is conducting
negotiations with several Armenian higher educational institutions
on the issue of granting Microsoft certificates to graduates of the
information and telecomunication sector. It is envisaged that the
number of specialists with such certificates will reach a thousand
by 2010. Director of Microsoft Corporation’s Business Management and
Strategy Center Paul Muckleston stated this during the conference
"Microsoft Innovation Day" held in Yerevan’s Marriott Hotel on
April 10.

According to his forecasts, the current number of computers in Armenia
(about 130 thousand) will increase by another 20 thousand. It was
mentioned that 5% of Armenian households have computers, which is
a low index. P. Muckleston said that in the coming years the import
of computers into Armenia will make 25 thousand a year, while 30-35%
of households will have computers, which is important for development
of knowledge-based economy.

Microsoft’s official considered the "very high educational level" of
the Armenian population as a "powerful basis", noting that universities
turn out qualified architects, physicists and mathematicians, who
form a good basis for further entrance of foreign companies into
the Armenian IT sector. In this connection P. Muckleston attached
importance to political stability of Armenia and to sustainable
economic growth registetred in the country in recent years.

It was noted that Microsoft plans to invest 7 billion dollars in
research.

The company registers about a thousand patents annually. It has
subsidiaries in 110 countries.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress