The Curia and Microsoft have reached a broad partnership agreement which encompasses a various areas, beyond the provision of technology to the Curia, its affiliates and Church schools.

The company will assist the Curia and the Church to adopt new technologies.

This will include some of the latest technologies and methods of secure messaging and collaboration as well as enhancing the Church's overall ICT services.

An integral part of the initiative will be the training of personnel in the new technologies and methodologies for deployment.

The Curia and the company will work together to assist young people and the elderly who reside in Church homes and institutions to acquire new skills and access to technology.

Microsoft will be assisting the Church to set up the facilities in its institutions by supplying teaching materials, software and technical assistance. Furthermore, the company will assist in the training of voluntary trainers who will support this initiative.

Microsoft also plans to work with the Church schools in a variety of areas including teacher training, assisting in the implementation of new technologies in school labs and enhancing the overall student experience with regard to the use of ICT in education.

This assistance is to be complemented by training and workshops for teachers.

The company will be supplying a number of additional technologies for use by students both at school and at home. Church schools will be able to benefit from favourably priced software titles from Microsoft.