Pamela Passman
Corporate Vice President
Global Corporate Affairs
Microsoft Corporation


Microsoft was founded on the belief that technology can empower people and organizations to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential. Over the past three decades, we have seen that idea come to life for millions of people, as information and communications technology has become less expensive, more widely available, and a mainstay of personal and professional life in many parts of the world.

Everywhere, it seems, the power of information and communication technology (ICT) is enabling enormous societal changes, increasing personal and business productivity, creating economic opportunities that were once out of reach, and redefining the way people work, communicate, and live their lives.

But the good news is not universal. Despite the rapid growth and widespread adoption of information and communications technologies, the disparity between people who are able to benefit from ICT and those who are not is a problem that affects the vast majority of people worldwide.

For example, one key part of our lives remains largely as it was before the dawn of personal computing – the classroom. Education today isn’t that different than 30 years ago. In most classes, rows of students still sit at their desks, listen to the teacher, read from printed text books, and hand in written assignments. Although technology has tremendous potential to transform the learning experience, it has yet to reach many of the people who need it most.

For Microsoft, promoting digital literacy requires not just resources but resourcefulness. Not just network infrastructure, but economic incentives. And not just good software, but good public policy. Achieving widespread digital literacy requires that we work in partnership with others. This work is vital, because we understand that at the heart of exclusion is the loss of opportunity, and fewer chances for new beginnings.

Teaching and Learning—Microsoft’s commitment to education and learning aims to benefit learners of all ages, giving them the skills they need at every stage in their lives. For young people, that means infusing technology in developing fundamental skills such as reading, writing and math. For teachers and educators, it means making sure they have the technology know-how to enrich the learning environment and pass technology skills to their students. For adults, it means supporting IT skills training programs to improve their ability to compete in the workforce of today’s global economy.

Through our Partners in Learning initiative, we are working in partnership with governments, educators and industry leaders worldwide to offer knowledge and skills to students and teachers in K–12 classrooms and eliminate the gaps in ICT access, implementation and usage. Partners in Learning provides technology skills training to the broad spectrum of people who want to learn—from people who are encountering ICT for the first time, to those who want to strengthen or expand their skills.

Workforce Development, Employability and Entrepreneurism—Through the Microsoft Unlimited Potential – Community Technology Skills program, we are partnering with NGOs, IGOs and telecenters to support a wide range of basic digital literacy skills training programs that reach learners of all ages and abilities, including nontraditional community learners such as seniors, at-risk youth, people with disabilities, as well as experienced workers who want to update or advance their technology skills or small business owners using technology to realize entrepreneurial success.

Accessibility—For nearly two decades, Microsoft has been a leader in accessible technology, making it easier for people with physical, cognitive, visual and other impairments to enjoy the benefits of computing. Our software also enables other companies to develop technology solutions that empower people with a wide range of mild-to-severe disabilities and age-related impairments to work more easily and productively.

The need for accessible technology is underscored by demographic trends that forecast a shrinking workforce and rapidly aging population in much of the developed world: Japan's population is aging faster than that of any other country; by 2050 an estimated 60 percent of the working-age population in the European Union will be over age 60; and by 2020, one in five U.S. workers will be older than 55—an increase of more than 50 percent since 2000. Microsoft is involved in several ongoing programs and partnerships around the world that provide technology training and assistance for people with a variety of impairments and disabilities.