VICTORIA'S HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS LAUNCH VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS

Cisco Solution Provides Stable and highly Scalable Campus-wide System for Collaborative Technologies at TAFEs

SYDNEY, Australia 21 August 2006: Nine of Victoria's leading higher education institutions are implementing the Cisco Unified Communications® system - an Internet Protocol (IP) based telephony system that will bring to life their vision of a virtual classroom.

Optus, a major provider to the TAFE segment and a Cisco® Gold Certified Partner, is integrating Cisco Unified Communications products with the Optus Managed Telephony and Carriage Service, delivering an end-to-end IP telephony solution to the nine Victorian Technical and Further Education (TAFE) facilities. The solution, which includes approximately 4,000 Cisco Unified IP phones, is designed to reduce operational and administration costs, enhance productivity and assist in delivering better educational outcomes.

Campuses operated by the Box Hill, Central Gippsland, Chisholm, East Gippsland, Holmesglen, Kangan Batman, South West, Sunraysia and William Angliss TAFEs began a major review of network technology four years ago, leading to the installation of Cisco networks. In early 2006 the Victorian Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE) funded a second project to upgrade the TAFEs' infrastructure to a campuswide next-generation IP network, again based on Cisco technology.

Ray Griffiths, CEO of the Kangan Batman TAFE, said: "The Cisco Unified Communications system has provided us with the backbone to offer more flexible and responsive services. We can make information, communications and technology investments with confidence, knowing that future technology developments can be used for our benefit."

The first phase of the project involved the delivery of IP telephony and unified messaging services to staff across the campuses of each TAFE. Future deployments will support the TAFEs' vision of virtual classrooms that make use of videoconferencing, IPTV and other collaborative technologies, including education applications such as roll calls and emergency alerts. Videoconferencing is particularly attractive to the teaching staff as it can be used to close the distance between the TAFEs' campuses and provide more personal tutoring to students enrolled through open learning programs.

Rob Parcell, the director of Optus Victoria, said: "Optus has been providing telecommunications services to TAFE for two years under the Victorian Government's TPAMS initiative. This particular TAFE solution will enhance productivity and collaboration while reducing incremental costs, such as moving or adding phone extensions, and general maintenance costs. We're looking to develop full online enrollment, and we're also planning to explore ways to integrate videoconferencing into the educational and administrative functions."

The installation of the upgraded networks and approximately 4,000 new handsets will provide a stable and scalable platform for converged communications. The solution includes Cisco Unified IP Phone 7941G and 7961G handsets; Cisco Catalyst® 3750 and 6500 Series Switches; Cisco Unified Contact Center; Cisco Security Monitoring, Analysis and Response System (Cisco Security MARS); and Cisco Unified Unity Connection integrated messaging.

Dom Carbone, Cisco regional sales manager, Victoria, said; "There is no doubt that Internet-based interactions are opening up huge opportunities for expanding the way the skills are taught. These leading Victorian TAFEs are wonderful examples of higher educational facilities taking the lead in providing collaborative learning opportunities for their students and cost reductions for the organizations themselves."

About the Office of Training and Tertiary Education, Victoria
The Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE) is a division of the Victorian Department of Education and Training. Responsibilities include planning, buying and monitoring services offered by TAFE institutions, registered training organisations and adult and community and further education (ACFE); as well as leading and supporting the development of the higher education, vocational education and training and ACFE systems. Information about OTTE can be found at http://www.otte.vic.gov.au.

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