This is an excellent initiative to empower students to learn software development using professional tools at a price point that students are expecting, Zero!
Microsoft is offering students in 11 countries (as of this post), the ability to register and download four development tools that are key to learning how to build professional applications, beautiful websites and games! They are:
Head on over to Channel8 to download it now: https://downloads.channel8.msdn.com/
Watch this interview with Bill Gates :
Bill Gates talks about Free Software, Students, and Technology