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Unesco and Microsoft recognize creative use of technology in education
MUMBAI: Unesco and Microsoft have joined forces to recognize and reward teachers from Europe, West Asia and Africa for new uses of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at the Innovative Teachers Forum 2007 taking place at Unesco Headquarters and the Louvre Museum in Paris. During the two-day event held under the auspices of the French Education Ministry, more than 200 teachers representing 40 countries from across the three regions will share best practices, network and explore new and creative ways to improve education and enrich learning for millions of children around the world using Technology. Other event sponsors include Café Pédagogique, France’s largest online community of educators, national television station France 5, Le Louvre and Samsung. |
“We are delighted to host this year’s Innovative Teachers Forum,” said Abdul Waheed Khan, Assistant Unesco Director-General for Communication and Information. “Unesco has long been committed to harnessing information and communication technologies to improve education. ICT can contribute to the quality of all types of education, formal and informal, and at all levels. It can also help the international drive to provide inclusive quality education for all by the year 2015.” |
The objective of the conference is to enable teachers to share their passion for teaching and showcase the innovative use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in their schools. Teachers‘ initiatives range from incorporating the internet and online courses in curricula, to interactive classroom exercises, through the use of blogs and digital portals for teachers, students and parents for interactive coursework, evaluation, feedback and dialogue. The Innovative Teachers Forum supports the 2015 UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for literacy and digital inclusion by helping to build a global community of educators that share ideas, classroom practices using ICT, and above all a common passion for learning. The 200 participants from 40 countries qualified for the event in national competitions that were held to recognize innovative teaching. This year’s forum focuses on “the four C’s”: Celebration, Collaboration, Community and Content. It will include keynote presentations, roundtables, a best practice sharing showcase and exhibition, and a special event sponsored by Le Louvre which will foster teambuilding, creativity and forward-thinking among the teachers in a competitive manner. “Through public-private partnerships we are working together to ensure the latest technology and resources are made available to global teaching communities while fostering high standards of learning,” said Alan Yates, Worldwide Managing Director for Education Programs at Microsoft. “To date, our Partners in Learning curriculum has enhanced the learning experience for more than 2 million primary and secondary school students globally.” The Innovative Teachers Program is part of Microsoft’s worldwide Partners in Learning initiative. Through Partners in Learning, Microsoft is providing significant investments of software and cash grants to deliver ICT skills training, tailored curriculum development, technical support, and research funds and resources to students and teachers. As part of the initiative, Microsoft collaborates with local and international experts and seeks to increase access to latest computer technologies in educational institutions. |
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
