What Wikipedia Has to say about Microsoft Student Partners!!!

Microsoft Student Partners

The Microsoft Student Partners is a worldwide educational program to sponsor students majoring in disciplines related to technology. MSP program attempts to enhance students' employability by offering training in skills not usually taught in academia, including knowledge in various Microsoft technologies.

The program is available in most countries, and all students in college and university level are eligible to apply. Typically, few most skilled students from each institution are chosen at a time. If accepted, Student Partners are assumed to further share the knowledge among the academic community by, for example, arranging courses, giving presentations and initiating projects.

History

The MSP Program was initiated in 2001, and operated in 15 countries for five years. In late 2006, the program was expanded to 50 countries worldwide, and as of October 10, 2008, 103 countries are represented.

As of February 1 2009, there are 1445 members worldwide across 91 countries and regions.

Purpose

The MSP 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. Student Partners are offered training especially in product-specific skills not typically taught in academia.

As a whole, 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.


Membership

The MSP program is active around the world to college and university level students. Microsoft chooses few skilled students from each institution at a time to serve as representatives.

Microsoft does not offer stipends to members of Student Partners program, but various software and hardware packages are distributed for testing and promotional purposes. Student Partners are also given access to MSDN Premium Subscriptions to support their promotional activities. At times, Student Partners are invited to technology-related conferences.

Typically, a Microsoft Student Partner is science major from engineering or business school of higher education. Youngest MSP, Babar Iqbal, is 11 years old, whereas the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional is M. Lavinashree, 9 years old.

Activities

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 promoting activities, such as Microsoft Imagine Cup and the Ultimate Steal; arranging courses; giving presentations and lectures; and initiating projects among the students.

The MSPs get invited to many different presentations and events hosted by Microsoft. For example, the UK MSPs were invited to the UK headquarters in Reading, England for two days, where they stayed overnight in a hotel. During the course of the year, they were invited to other events such as the Student Technology Day, which included a talk by the CEO of Microsoft, Steve Ballmer. The next major event is to be held at Microsoft Research, Cambridge, England for the Student Celebration Day in April 2009.

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Student_Partners