Microsoft Director of Education Industry visits Bialystok University of Technology

Jaye Richards-Hill, Microsoft Director of Education Industry for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, has visited Bialystok University of Technology. On Tuesday, 18 July 2023, she met with the University authorities: Rector, Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, and Vice-Rector for Education, Assoc. Prof. Agnieszka Dardzińska-Głębocka, DSc, PhD, as well as the management of the University IT Centre: Marcin Rodzianko and Magdalena Wasilewska. Together with Mrs Richards-Hill, we hosted Barbara Michalska, Director of the Education Market of Microsoft Poland, and Kacper Zubrzycki, Key Account Manager for Education, for whom this was their second visit to our university.

– I am very happy to be invited and to see your university in person. In my work I travel a lot and visit institutions cooperating with Microsoft, because I value direct contacts, during which we can exchange experiences of good practice in the dissemination of information and communication technologies. In this context, I greatly enjoyed my visit to the History Centre of Bialystok University of Technology, where you can see how well you use a variety of IT tools to support the teaching of students and the work of academic teachers. Today we are continuing this work, thanks to the cooperation between Microsoft Poland and Bialystok University of Technology, – said Jaye Richards-Hill, Microsoft Director of Education Industry for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa.

In June 2022 Bialystok University of Technology, as the first university in north-eastern Poland, was awarded the title of ‘Microsoft Cloud University’. The distinction was awarded for, among other things, the model use of Microsoft tools and technologies in the University’s daily scientific, administrative and research activities (read more: Białystok University of Technology awarded the prestigious title of ‘Microsoft Cloud University’). During the meeting, Jaye Richards-Hill congratulated Bialystok University of Technology on this achievement and discussed future solutions, including extending the participation of lecturers and students in the Microsoft Learn programme, which supports the development of digital competencies.

– Microsoft software is the global standard. As a university, we aim to continuously improve our work through the implementation of state-of-the-art tools and technologies and the optimal use of data, and this is what a presence in the Microsoft Cloud offers. In this way, we support the academic community in its development and motivate the use of innovative solutions that enhance the quality of research and education activities, as well as facilitate collaboration in administrative and management activities. An additional value for the entire academic community is the access of employees and students to advanced software, also for private use, – said Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology, during a meeting with Microsoft representatives.

The presence of Bialystok University of Technology among Microsoft Cloud Universities, i.e. the leaders setting the standard for digitalisation in the education sector, is a great accolade, but also a stimulus to search for more solutions in the field of integrated educational tools and intelligent security for higher education. Microsoft offers a wide range of these.

– Our visit to Bialystok University of Technology has several layers. First and foremost, we value direct contact between the team responsible for Microsoft’s educational activities and universities. Hence our presence at Bialystok University of Technology, which is keen to use our programmes, but also shares with us the challenges of their implementation. During face-to-face discussions, we have the opportunity to get to know the specifics of the university, discuss problems, as well as draw valuable conclusions on how to adapt Microsoft offer even better and more effectively to the requirements of our customers. On the other hand, based on our experience, we can help and advise on appropriate solutions. Microsoft is present in countries all over the world where it supports the education industry, so sharing knowledge and supporting the efforts of universities is our duty. We want to share and positively infect with technology and show that it is not an obstacle, but on the contrary, a tool that makes it easier for students to gain education and practical skills, and for scientists to achieve optimal results in their research projects, – emphasised Barbara Michalska, Director of the Education Market at Microsoft Poland.

The visit of Microsoft Director of Education Industry for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa to Bialystok University of Technology was coordinated by the team of the University IT Centre – the unit providing IT support at our University.

by mr