Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors
AbbreviationMLSA
Formation2001[1]
TypeEducational, promotional
Region served
Global
Membership
Students, alumni
2880 members[2]
Hosting corporation
Microsoft
Websitestudentambassadors.microsoft.com

The Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors (formerly called Microsoft Student Partners) is a program to sponsor students majoring in disciplines related to technology. The MSP (now MLSA) program enhances students' employability by offering training in skills not usually taught in academia, including knowledge of Microsoft technologies.

The program is available in most countries, and all college and university level students are eligible to apply. If accepted, Student Ambassadors are assumed to further share the knowledge among the academic community by, for example, arranging courses, giving presentations, and initiating projects.

History

The MSP (now MLSA) program was initiated in 2001 and operated in fifteen countries for five years. In late 2006, the program was expanded to fifty countries worldwide,[3] and as of July 2010, there are more than 2800 members worldwide across 101 countries and regions.[2]

On July 20, 2020, the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador program rebranded.

Purpose

The MLSA program is an educational and promotional program to sponsor undergraduate and postgraduate students majoring in disciplines related to technology, typically computer science, computer information systems, and information technology. MLSA program aims to enhance students' employability and increase students' awareness of Microsoft technologies. Student Ambassadors are offered training especially in product-specific skills not typically taught in academia.

The program aims to increase awareness of Microsoft products, programs and initiatives. Consequently, the program helps expanding the user base of Microsoft products, and results in better availability of properly educated workforce in those technologies.

Membership

The MLSA program is active around the world to college and university level students[note 1]. Microsoft chooses few skilled students from each institution at a time to serve as representatives. Typically, a Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador is science major from engineering or business school of higher education.

Microsoft offers compensation to the members of the Student Ambassadors program through software and hardware packages which are distributed to them for testing and promotional purposes. Student Ambassadors are given access to Visual Studio Enterprise Subscriptions and Azure free credits to support their development and promotional activities. At times, Student Ambassadors are invited to technology-related conferences.

Activities

Student Ambassadors are given access to the latest Microsoft software, development tools, reference material, industry events, and training opportunities.[3] MLSA's are assumed to further share the knowledge among the academic community by arranging courses; giving presentations and lectures; and initiating projects among the students. MLSA's are also used to promote incentives, for example, the Microsoft Imagine Cup;[note 2] and programs, such as the Ultimate Steal[5] and its affiliate program.[6] Some Student Ambassadors (based on a selection criteria) are provided internships and job opportunities at a few Microsoft Divisions through the program.

Local MLSA activities include, for example, attending the Student Technology Day in UK,[7] which included high-profile presentations, such as one by the CEO of Microsoft, Satya Nadella; and TechDays, for instance in France,[8] and in Canada.[9] In New Zealand, the MLSA developed a programmed called the Microsoft Student Accelerator (MSA), which aims to not only train the students throughout the year but also place the students in various internship programmes over the summer.[10][11]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Attending at high school level, or earlier, may also be possible, depending on the individual. Parth Bhalla, a young entrepreneur in the year 2019-2020 got accepted into MSP at the age of 17. Some of the Youngest MSP are Praneet Sah and Babar Iqbal, both being 13 years old. The youngest Microsoft Certified Professional, M. Lavinashree, is 9 years old.[4]
  2. ↑ Student Ambassadors may also actively compete in Imagine Cup; they are not directly affiliated to the organizers of the incentive.

References

  1. ↑ "Rolling Out the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors Around the World". Microsoft. 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  2. 1 2 "Microsoft Student Ambassador". Microsoft. Retrieved 2010-04-18.
  3. 1 2 "Microsoft Rolls Out Global Initiative to Promote Career Development for Students". Microsoft. 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  4. ↑ "Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional just 9 years old". 29 December 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  5. ↑ "Microsoft Office Discount for US Students - The Ultimate Steal - Office 2007 Software for $59.95". Microsoft. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  6. ↑ "The Ultimate Steal Affiliate Program". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
  7. ↑ "Student Technology Day - Making Computer Science Matter". Microsoft. 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  8. ↑ "Microsoft Techdays : le rendez-vous des professionnels de l'informatique". Microsoft. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  9. ↑ "Microsoft Tech Days Canada 2008". Microsoft. Retrieved 2009-03-23.
  10. ↑ "Microsoft Student Accelerator. Inspire. Develop. Innovate".
  11. ↑ "Kiwi students take first steps to IT career through Microsoft NZ".
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