Microsoft launches crowdfunding program for student laptops and offers Office 365 for free to the first 10.000 participants
Microsoft has launched a new initiative to help students access laptops and other devices for their education. The program, called Microsoft Education Fund, allows schools and educators to create crowdfunding campaigns on the Microsoft website and receive donations from individuals and organizations. Microsoft will also provide Office 365 Education for free to the first 10.000 participants who sign up for the program.
The Microsoft Education Fund aims to address the digital divide that affects many students, especially in rural and low-income areas, who lack the tools and resources necessary to learn online. According to a recent UNESCO report, more than 1.500 billion students have been affected by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many of them face challenges in accessing quality education remotely.
«Microsoft is committed to empowering every student on the planet to achieve more. We believe that access to technology is essential for learning in the 21st century and we want to support educators and students who face unprecedented challenges during this time,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president of Worldwide Education at Microsoft.
The Microsoft Education Fund is open to any school or educator who wants to create a crowdfunding campaign for laptops or other devices running Windows 10 or Windows 11. Campaigns can be customized with photos, videos, and stories that show the impact of devices on student learning outcomes. Donors can choose from a variety of devices offered by Microsoft and its partners, including Surface, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer and Asus.
Microsoft will also offer Office 365 Education for free to the first 10.000 participants who sign up for the program. Office 365 Education includes online versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Teams, and more. It also comes with 1TB of cloud storage on OneDrive and access to Microsoft's AI-powered learning tools such as Immersive Reader, Translator, and Math Solver.
“We are excited to launch the Microsoft Education Fund as a way to connect donors with schools and educators who need laptops and devices for their students. We hope this program will help close the digital divide and allow more students to learn online with confidence and creativity,” Salcito said.
Microsoft has launched a new initiative called “Chip In” to help students prepare for the next academic year with a Windows laptop of their choice. The program allows students with a .edu email address to create a crowdfunding campaign on the Microsoft online store and invite their friends and family to contribute towards the purchase of their laptop. Microsoft will also contribute 10 percent of the cost of any eligible device, in addition to providing the free college edition of Office 365 to the first 10,000 students who join the program.
The Chip In promotion runs from today until September 1, covering the entire summer period for higher education students. Students can choose from 15 different Windows PCs from various brands, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba and Microsoft. The list of eligible laptops includes some of the most popular and innovative Windows 8 devices, such as the Surface Pro and Surface RT, Lenovo Yoga, and Asus Taichi. All of these devices have a discounted price thanks to Microsoft's 10 percent contribution, which you can see here.
The program is not only open to students, but also to faculty and staff members who have a valid .edu email address. To participate, simply select a laptop, create a profile page using your Facebook account, and ask your friends and family to contribute to help you reach your funding goal.
