Microsoft DreamSpark makes its regional debut

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COO Kevin Turner addressing guests at the Microsoft Innovation Day in Riyadh

Students in the Middle East can now enrol in Microsoft DreamSpark, an educational initiative that allows them to download Microsoft developer and design tools for free.

Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft, launched the program at the Microsoft Innovation Day held recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The message of DreamSpark is to ‘Dream today. Create tomorrow’ and hopes to not only inspire creativity in students but also equip them with the right tools to succeed in their future.

While the DreamSpark website is not yet available in Arabic, there are plans to make the tools available in the language.

At present, software available includes Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, SQL Server 2008 Developer Edition, Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition, Robotics Developers Studio 2008 and several others.

In order to download and use the free software, subscribers will have to obtain a Windows Live ID and verify their student status once every year through the website.

Microsoft DreamSpark was officially launched in 11 countries in February 2008, including Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The program made its debut in India and the Middle East this month as part of Microsoft’s aim to reach more high school students and increase the number of participating countries.

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