On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the efforts of more than 2,000 educators for their passion in teaching and learning through our annual Microsoft Innovative Educator program recognition
“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning”
– Brad Henry, U.S. politician
5 October marks World Teachers’ Day, and this year’s theme is focused on reminding the global community that the right to education cannot be achieved without training and qualifying teachers. The “Teachers’ Gap” is more pronounced among vulnerable populations, where there is an urgent need to impart future-ready skills in order to mitigate the widening economic gap brought about by digital transformation.
This year, we are pleased to welcome 2,050 Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts (MIEE) to our Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) program for their excellence in teaching and learning from Asia Pacific, and one of the largest representations from the region thus far.
MIEEs from the region make up close to a quarter of the total MIEEs recognized for their exceptional efforts globally. These educators have been recognized for their efforts to spark their students’ creativity with thoughtful integration of Microsoft technologies to improve learning outcomes.
Country | No. of MIEE |
Bangladesh | 93 |
Brunei | 18 |
Cambodia | 2 |
China | 60 |
Hong Kong | 25 |
Indonesia | 51 |
India | 591 |
Japan | 105 |
Korea | 111 |
Malaysia | 201 |
New Zealand | 101 |
Philippines | 154 |
Singapore | 34 |
Sri Lanka | 187 |
Thailand | 33 |
Taiwan | 98 |
Vietnam | 186 |
The MIE program comprises of more than 350,000 educators worldwide, who have joined the Microsoft Educator Community and successfully completed professional development online courses, contributed lesson plans and connected with other educators across the globe.
These educators inspire with their student-centered approaches that make a true difference in the lives of their students. They constantly seek new and innovative ways to incorporate 21st century learning into their classrooms and help students build future-ready skills that will enable them to succeed in school, life and career. They go beyond their own lecture rooms by working with other educators in professional learning networks that impact students across their region and the world.
Technology is not an end-all to developing a future-ready workforce, innovative educators are
At Microsoft, we understand that the mere presence of technology in the classroom is not sufficient to create impactful learning outcomes without the support of school leaders.
In our recently published guide on Transforming Education, Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft, underscored that digital transformation in education must be a people-centric journey, with a sharp focus on helping students unleash their talent, celebrating the critical and growing role educators play and preparing school leaders to harness possibility. It is only with motivated school leaders and educators can the use of technology transform curriculum and better prepare students for the new world of work.
For example, Hoa, a YouthSpark teacher in Vietnam, had adopted an ICT curriculum after attending training workshops by our partners, the Ministry of Education and Vietnet-ICT, a non-profit working in the areas of information technology and communication. Today, he teaches in a local school located in the mountainous region of Hoa Binh, where students trek to attend school. However, these students are also offered an equal opportunity in the new economy through digital skills training.
Educators like Hoa, are reasons why we are we are inspired every day by the impact dedicated educators and thoughtful leaders are making on innovative teaching, ultimately improving student outcomes. At the core of everything we do is the drive to motivate educators and, in turn, to help every student achieve more.
We know these educators will continue to do amazing things for their students, and we look forward to partnering with them throughout the coming year.
The full announcement can be found at here. If you are an educator interested in being part of the MIE program, here are some resources to help you get started:
- Become a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert
- Help your school become a Microsoft Showcase School or Microsoft School
- Join the Microsoft Educator Community