Keele University Deploys WebCT Vista to Manage Growing Student Numbers

Added: (Tue Jun 21 2005)

Pressbox (Press Release) - KEELE UNIVERSITY DEPLOYS WEBCT VISTA TO MANAGE GROWING STUDENT NUMBERS

Keele University invests in e-learning to assess student performance and establish superior communication between students and teachers

London, England, 20 June 2005 – WebCT, a world leading provider of e-learning solutions for higher education, today announced that Keele University has become the latest UK customer to select the WebCT VistaTM academic enterprise system. Keele will use the system to create a blended learning environment that combines established pedagogic techniques with e-learning. Keele has chosen WebCT Vista in order to offer a cost-effective, enhanced learning experience to the growing number of students and work groups on and off-campus.

Keele was also looking for a system which would help them in the assessment of student performance and this will be a key aspect in the initial stages of deployment through a number of pilot projects. Having conducted a campus-wide survey of the needs of students and staff, Keele decided on WebCT Vista because it offered the best combination of functionality whilst being economically attractive. WebCT Vista will gradually be rolled out over the next three years across the University.

"We were keen to implement a system from a trusted player in the e-learning market in order that we can get the best return on investment and be sure to get a range of functionality. This meant a system with a proven track record and presence in the UK market," said Chris Phillipson, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Development, Keele University. "Being relatively new to e-learning also meant that we needed a company who could offer us real-time support from the vbeginning and WebCT had the best offering in terms of meeting this need, from conception well into the future."

Keele University is based on a 650-acre campus in Staffordshire and caters for the needs of around 7,500 full time equivalent students. Although the majority of students at Keele are campus based, there are a small, but significantly increasing number of students working remotely, including several postgraduates. WebCT Vista will not only be important in ensuring communication is optimized across its three faculties, but it will also play an important role in optimizing the experience for distance learners by providing remote access to course materials and discussion groups. This will help maintain the close campus-based community feel for which the University is particularly known.

About WebCT
WebCT is a trusted industry leader that has set international standards for e-learning systems in higher education around the globe. Headquartered in Lynnfield, Massachusetts with customers in over 70 countries worldwide, WebCT provides highly flexible e-learning solutions that empower institutions across the educational spectrum with the ability to achieve their unique e-learning objectives. Leading higher and further education institutes are standardising on WebCT in order to expand the traditional boundaries of teaching, streamline the cost of education and enhance the student learning experience. For more information, please visit webct.com.