The Microsoft Student Partner 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. MSP program aims to enhance students’ employability and increase students’ awareness of Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Student Partners 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.
The MSP program is active around the world to college and university level students. Microsoft chooses one skilled student from each institution at a time to serve as representatives. Typically, a Microsoft Student Partner is science major from engineering or business school of higher education.
Microsoft offers compensation to the members of the Student Partners program through salaries (in some countries only) and software and hardware packages which are distributed to them for testing and promotional purposes. Student Partners are given access to MSDN Premium Subscriptions to support their promotional activities. At times, Student Partners are invited to technology-related conferences.
The candidate students are evaluated on the following attributes:
Technical expertise
A strong understanding of overall set of Microsoft Visual languages and .NET Framework is preferred, along with specific demonstrable skills in one or more languages or technologies. Students skilled in multiple platforms, languages and technologies are especially encouraged to join the program.
Be a campus leader
Nominees should be actively involved in student technical clubs, societies and organizations, preferably in leadership roles.
Be an active part of the online community
Nominees should be actively involved in online communities, academic or professional. Examples include blogs, newsgroups, forums, online clubs and related.
Embrace new technology
Nominees should seek out new technologies, explore them and share that experience and knowledge gained with fellow students and faculty.
Work well with faculty
Nominees should be well regarded by faculty within their department and across campus.
Keep an outgoing personality and mature attitude
Nominees should have an outgoing personality in public situations. They should also have a positive, mature attitude towards responding to criticism and engaging in debate.
Activities
Microsoft Student Partners are given access to the latest Microsoft software, development tools, reference material, industry events and training opportunities. MSPs are assumed to further share the knowledge among the academic community by arranging courses; giving presentations and lectures; and initiating projects among the students. MSPs are also used to promote incentives, for example, the Microsoft Imagine Cup; and programs, such as the Ultimate Steal and its affiliate program. Some Student Partners (based on a selection criteria) are provided internships and job opportunities at a few Microsoft Divisions through the program.
Aayush Sharma, Computer Science Engineering student represented SBIT as Microsoft Student Partner. He was actively involved in activities ranging from arranging seminars in Colleges in and around Delhi NCR and also attending the ones organized by others.
He did Masters Program in Computer Science and Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington,USA.