Microsoft said on Thursday it is expanding its education-focused offerings with a new global programme for teachers and a set of artificial intelligence-powered tools, as schools and universities grapple with how to use AI responsibly in classrooms.
The company announced Microsoft Elevate for Educators, a programme aimed at providing teachers and school leaders with free professional development, access to global peer networks and industry-recognised credentials related to AI.
The initiative also includes new AI features within Microsoft 365 Education products, which Microsoft said would be offered at no additional cost to existing education customers.
The move comes as education systems worldwide debate how quickly to adopt generative AI tools, balancing potential productivity gains against concerns over academic integrity, data privacy and unequal access.
Microsoft said the Elevate for Educators programme is designed to help teachers integrate AI into teaching while improving confidence and skills. The programme offers online courses, live training sessions and simulations in more than 13 languages, alongside new credentials developed with education bodies ISTE and ASCD.
Justin Spelhaug, President, Microsoft Elevate, said AI was becoming part of everyday learning and that schools needed support to adopt it responsibly. He said Microsoft’s approach was focused on providing “secure tools and training” rather than leaving educators to experiment without guidance.
In addition to the educator programme, Microsoft said it would introduce new AI-powered features inside the Microsoft 365 Copilot app tailored for education. These include tools to assist teachers with lesson planning, adjusting content for different reading levels and generating assessments, as well as an AI assistant designed to support student study and revision.
Some of these tools are available immediately, while others will be released in preview later this month.
Microsoft also announced a limited-time offer for higher education students, providing eligible college students with 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium and LinkedIn Premium Career subscriptions at no cost. The offer includes access to AI-powered productivity tools and career-focused resources, reflecting growing competition among technology companies to attract students early in their careers.
Education technology has become a key focus for large technology firms as generative AI tools gain traction. However, adoption remains uneven. While some schools have embraced AI to support teaching and administration, others have restricted its use due to concerns over plagiarism, reliability and the impact on learning outcomes.
Microsoft said its new education tools are designed to work within existing security and compliance frameworks used by schools.
The announcements were made ahead of the Bett education technology conference in the United Kingdom, where AI in education is expected to be a central theme.
Microsoft is among several technology companies seeking to position themselves as long-term partners to education systems as AI reshapes how students learn and how teachers work.
